MASTER 
NEGA  TI VE 


NO 


92-80588-4 


MICROFILMED  1992 
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AUTHOR: 


WALKER,  THOMAS  H. 


rwiwrpiw    ri 
J  M  M  LjMJj  • 


COMPANION  FOR  THE 

AFFLICTED 


PLACE: 


NEW  YORK 


DA  TE : 


1850 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 
PRESERVATION  DEPARTMENT 

BIBLIOGRAPHIC  MICROFORM  TARHFT 


Master  Negative  # 


Original  Material  as  I-ilnied  -  Existing  Bibliographic  Record 


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Walker t      Thomas  H. 

A  companion  for  the  afflicted 
Lane,  1650. 

352  p.   18?:cm. 


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COMPANION  FOU  THE  AFFLICTED: 


DESIGNED 


FOR  THE  BENEFIT  OF  ALL  WHO  ARE  DISTRESSED, 
WHETHER  IN  MIND,  BODY,  OR  ESTATE. 


BY   THOMAS   II.  WALKER. 


"  To  l)G  above  the  stroke  of  the  passions  is  a  cniulilion  equal  to  angels ;  to  bo 
in  a  state  of  sorrow  without  the  sense  of  sorrow  is  a  disposition  beneath  beasts; 
but  duly  to  regulate  our  soitows,  and  bound  our  passions  under  the  rod,  is  the 
wisilom,  duty,  and  excellency  of  a  Christian."— Flavel. 


GEORGE   PECK,   EDITOR. 


PUBLISHED  BY  LANE  &  SCOTT, 

200  Mulberry-street. 

JOSEPH    LONGKING,    PRINTER. 

1650. 


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A  PRAYER, 


BY  SYMON  PATRICK,  D.  D.,  BISHOP  OF  ELY. 


VOUCHSAFE,  O  LORD,  TO  EVERY  OxNE  THAT  SHALL 
PERUSE  THIS  BOOK,  THE  ILLUMINATION  OF  THY  HOLY 
SPIRIT,  TO  UNDERSTAND  THOSE  THINGS  WHICH  ARE 
FAITHFULLY  DECLARED  THEREIN,  ACCORDING  TO  THY 
MIND  AND  will:  AND  WORK  IN  ALL  OUR  HEARTS 
MOST  DEVOUT  AFFECTIONS  TO  OUR  BLESSED  SAVIOUR, 
FOR  OUR  INCREASE  IN  FAITH,  AND  LOVE,  AND  HOLY 
OBEDIENCE.       AMEN. 


"Z-4-0 


(1 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  sufferings  incident  to  mortality  are  numerous 
and  pressing.  To  know  how  to  endure  them,  and 
how  to  improve  them,  is  an  important  point  of  wis- 
dom. The  afflicted  constitute  a  numerous  class; 
and  whatever  our  prosperity  to-day,  to-morrow  we 
may  be  of  the  number  of  those  who  suffer  "  chas- 
tisement." In  a  multitude  of  instances,  those  who 
are  made  to  drink  deeply  of  the  cup  of  sorrow  are 
deprived  of  the  public  means  of  grace,  and  even  of 
the  blessings  of  private  religious  instructions  and 
intercourse.  How  important  is  it,  under  such  cir- 
cumstances, to  have  at  hand  a  good  book  suited 
to  the  condition  and  wants  of  such,  that  they  may 
not,  in  their  despondency,  forget  that  they  "suffer 
according  to,  the  will  of  God,"  and  that  their  afflic- 
tions may  work  for  them  "  a  far  more  exceeding 
and  eternal  weight  of  glory !"  We  have  met  with 
no  merely  human  composition  better  calculated 
to  instruct,  to  soothe,  and  to  comfort  the  afflicted 
than  the  present  work.  We,  therefore,  earnestly 
recommend  it  to  the  church  at  large.  Those  who 
do  not  especially  need  its  advices  and  consolations 
now,  may  need  them  but  too  soon.  Let  every 
Christian  family,  then,  immediately  procure  a  copy. 
May  God  give  this  precious  book  his  blessing ! 

George  Peck. 

New-York,  March  9,  1846. 


PREF  A  CE. 


A  DESIRE  to  promote  the  best  interests  of  his 
fellow-creatures,  is  the  motive  which  has  governed 
the  life  of  the  author  for  more  than  thirty  years :  this 
motive  originated  the  following  essays,  and  im- 
pressed upon  them  their  present  character.  They 
are  sent  into  the  world  with  the  hope  that  they  may 
prove  serviceable  to  a  class  of  persons  with  whom 
the  writer  has  long  been  accustomed  to  sympathize, 
not  only  from  the  influence  of  Christian  principles, 
but  also  from  a  fellow-feeling,  arising  from  a  length- 
ened personal  experience  in  the  school  of  affliction. 
Beyond  this  design  he  claims  no  merit,  and  expects 
no  fame. 

"  In  every  book  observe  the  writer's  aim,"  is  a 
rule  by  which  criticism  ought  ever  to  be  regulated. 
The  design  of  the  following  pages,  the  author  per- 
suades himself,  has  been  rendered  unquestionable ; 
on  this  point  he  feels  no  misgivings ;  and  he  is  satis- 
fied that  there  is  so  much  of  candor  and  piety  abroad, 
"  that  the  design  of  the  work,"  to  use  the  words  of 
Bishop  Patrick,  "  is  sufficient  to  give  it  protection, 
if  it  cannot  gain  it  approbation.  It  hurts  nobody, 
and  therefore  may  pass  in  safety ;  and  it  offers  its 
service  to   do   everybody  good,  which,  methinks. 


\ 


\i 


Ipa;:^  ;^..^7~:7^%:sm; 


PREF  A  CE. 


A  DESIRE  lo  promote  the  best  interests  of  his 
fellow-creatures,  is  the  motive  which  has  governed 
the  life  of  the  author  for  more  than  thirty  years :  this 
motive  originated  the  following  essays,  and  im- 
pressed upon  them  their  present  character.  They 
are  sent  into  the  world  with  the  hope  that  they  may 
prove  serviceable  to  a  class  of  persons  with  whom 
the  writer  has  long  been  accustomed  to  sympathize, 
not  only  from  the  influence  of  Christian  principles, 
but  also  from  a  fellow-feeling,  arising  from  a  length- 
ened personal  experience  in  the  school  of  affliction. 
Beyond  this  design  he  claims  no  merit,  and  expects 

no  fame. 

« In  every  book  observe  the  writer^s  aim,"  is  a 
rule  by  which  criticism  ought  ever  to  be  regulated. 
The  design  of  the  following  pages,  the  author  per- 
suades himself,  has  been  rendered  unquestionable ; 
on  this  point  he  feels  no  misgivings ;  and  he  is  satis- 
fied that  there  is  so  much  of  candor  and  piety  abroad, 
"  that  the  design  of  the  work,"  to  use  the  words  of 
Bishop  Patrick,  "  is  sufficient  to  give  it  protection, 
if  it  cannot  gain  it  approbation.  It  hurts  nobody, 
and  therefore  may  pass  in  safety ;  and  it  offers  its 
service  to   do   everybody  good,  which,  methinks. 


i 


PREFACE. 


should  be  taken  kindly  by  those  who  stand  in  no 
need  of  it." 

The  writer  is  aware  that  a  good  intention  is  not 
always  a  sufficient  apology  for  obtruding  a  book  on 
the  notice  of  the  public ;  and  in  the  present  instance 
it  may  perhaps  be  urged,  that  books  on  affliction  are 
already  numerous :  it  will  be  found  on  examination, 
however,  that  of  those  by  far  the  greater  number 
are  addressed  exclusively  to  experienced  Christians, 
and  are  confined  to  the   purpose   of  consolation, 
whereas  the  majority  of  persons  in  trouble  are  devoid 
of  religion  ;  and  with  respect  to  real  Christians,  they 
often  require  something  besides  comfort ;  they  need 
to  have  their  minds  stirred  up  by  way  of  remem- 
brance;   they  need  the  word  of   exhortation,  the 
counsels  of  wisdom,  the  cautions  of  experience,  the 
reproofs  of  fidelity ;  and  these,  too,  must  in  many 
instances  precede  the  administration  of  comfort.  The 
author  has,   therefore,   endeavored  to  adapt   these 
essays  to  both  classes,  and,  as  far  as  he  was  able,  to 
meet  the  varied  experience  of  all  who  are  in  distress. 
Having  written  exclusively  for  their  benefit,  he  has 
sought  to  avoid  all  polemical  discussion,  and  the 
introduction  of  matters  purely  speculative,  as  being 
unsuited  to  the  state  of  their  minds,  and  the  pecu- 
liarity of  their  circumstances. 

Free  use  has  been  made  of  such  writers  as  have 
united  their  kind  endeavors  to  assuage  the  burden 
of  human  wo ;  in  so  doing  the  author  hoped  to  add 
to  the  value  of  the  book,  and  to  render  it  the  more 
interesting  and  serviceable.  He  prefers  this  general 
acknowledgment  to  a  particular  notation  of  each 


PREFACE. 


passage.  The  same  reason  has  led  to  the  introduc- 
tion of  so  many  poetical  extracts.  These,  he  hopes, 
will  be  acceptable,  not  only  on  account  of  their  gene- 
ral excellence,  but  because  in  that  state  of  mind 
which  often  distinguishes  the  afflicted,  a  striking 
verse  of  poetry  wiU  frequently  afford  more  effectual 
relief  than  the  best-selected  argument. 

The  author  tenders^  his  grateful  acknowledgments 
to  the  numerous  friends  who  have  kindly  patronized 
the  undertaking,  and  but  for  whose  spontaneous 
encouragement,  it  is  probable,  it  would  never  have 
been  brought  to  its  present  issue. 

The  manner  in  which  the  work  has  grown  up 
under  the  hands  of  its  author  has  been  very  far  from 
favorable  to  anything  like  critical  completion.  It 
has  been  written  at  sundry  times,  amidst  a  variety 
of  engagements,  and  many  painful  exercises,  and 
possesses  but  little  claim  to  attention,  except  as  ad- 
dressing itself  to  the  heart  and  experience  of  the 
afflicted.  If  these  should  find  in  it  anything  either 
to  edify  or  comfort ;  if  any  should  learn  from  it  to 
support  with  patience  the  weight  of  calamity,  and  to 
look  up  under  it  with  becoming  resignation  to  the 
Father  of  mercies,  it  will  readily  be  allowed  that  an 
end  so  desirable  as  this  will  render  alike  indifferent 
either  the  breath  of  applause,  or  the  blast  of  censure. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  SECOND  EDITION. 


As  this  volume  originated  exclusively  in  a  desire 
to  benefit  the  afllicted,  the  call  for  a  second  edition, 
added  to  the  numerous  testimonies  received  of  the 
benefits  which  have  been  derived  from  its  perusal, 
not  only  by  the  afllicted,  but  also  by  others,  afford 
the  author  much  higher  gratification  than  could  arise 
from  a  mere  expression  of  public  approbation.  To 
that  approbation  no  one  who  addresses  the  public, 
can  be  indifferent,  but  while  he  acknowledges,  with 
pleasure  and  gratitude,  that  the  favorable  reception 
of  liis  work  has  far  exceeded  his  expectations,  the 
author  cannot  but  state,  that  his  highest  satisfaction 
is  derived  from  the  prospect  of  its  more  extensive 
usefulness.  To  tlie  divine  blessing  it  is  devoutly 
commended,  with  the  hope  that  this  edition  will 
be  found  more  worthy  of  public  patronage  than  the 
former  one. 


Julij  30/X,  1845. 


CONTENTS. 


*    w 


PAOB 

The  Source  of  Affliction 13 

The  Design  of  Affliction 2G 

I'roper  Behavior  under  Affliction 48 

Comfort  in  Affliction 70 

Tlie  blessed  Results  of  sanctified  Affliction 92 

The  Abuse  of  Affliction 112 

Depression  of  Mind  in  Affliction 124 

The  Duties  of  those  who  have  been  delivered  from  Affliction.  142 

The  Preciousness  of  Christ  in  Affliction 154 

Prayer  in  Affliction 183 

Faith  in  Affliction ^^^ 

Preparation  against  Affliction 21f» 

The  Mystery  connected  with  Affliction 23 1 

On  Visiting  the  Afflicted 251 

Youth  in  Affliction 2CR 

Old  Age  in  Affliction 287 

Affliction  in  the  Prospect  of  Death 312 

Affliction  terminating  in  Heaven 32li 


4 


COMPANION  FOR  THE  AFFLICTED. 


THE  SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


From  llie  bless 'd  Source  of  good 
Could  pain  or  death  proceed  ?    Could  such  foul  ill 
Fall  from  fair  Mercy's  hands  ?     Far  be  the  thought, 
The  impious  thought !  God  never  made  a  creature 
But  what  was  good.    He  made  a  living  man : — 
The  man  of  death  was  made  by  man  himself. 

The  same  rash  hand 
That  pluck'd,  in  evil  hour,-  the  fatal  fniit, 
Uubarr'd  the  gates  of  hell,  arfd  let  loose  sin, 
And  death,  and  all  the  family  of  pain. 
To  prey  upon  mankind. 

"  BY  ONE  MAN  STN  ENTERED  INTO  THE  WORLD,  AND  DEATH  BY  SIN; 
AND  SO  DEATH  PASSED  UPON  ALL  MEN,  FOR  THAT  ALL  HAVE  SINNED.'' 

Rom.  T,  12. 

It  is  of  primary  importance  that  we  should  entertain 
correct  views  of  the  source  of  human  misery.  A  mistake 
on  this  subject  cannot  exist  without  producing  consequences 
highly  injurious  in  their  character.  It  will  lead  us,  either 
to  impugn  the  character  of  God,  as  a  benevolent  being,  or 
to  cherish  dispositions  inimical  to  confidence,  submission, 
and  patience.  The  true  source  of  all  misery  is — sin. 
This  is  the  fruitful  occasion  of  all  the  sorrows  by  which 
the  world  is  agonized.  To  man,  therefore,  and  not  to  his 
Maker,  must  its  existence  be  ascribed.  "  God  is  love :" 
this  is  the  sum  of  his  moral  character,  the  glory  of  his 
nature,  and  that  which  is  the  chief  object  of  his  own  compla- 
cency.    It  is  the  essence  of  benevol^ce  to  love  and  pro- 


14 


THE  SOURCE   OF  AFFLICTION. 


duce  happiness.     Full  of  blessedness  in  himself,  the  earth 
was  called  into  being  by  its  great  Author  that  it  might  be 
a  vehicle,  or  medium,  for  the  circulation  and  diffusion  of 
his  own  happiness ;  and  had  the  original  design  of  man's 
creation  been  realized,  the  world  would  have  exhibited  the 
glorious  spectacle  of  a  whole  race,  innocent,  united,  and 
happy,  having  one  heart,  and  one  way ; — a  heart  beating 
in  unison  with  heaven,  and  diffusing,  with  every  pulse, 
life,  and  health,  and  joy,  to  the  remotest  members  of  the 
body.     In  conformity  with  this  benevolent  design,  man 
was  created  after  the  image  of  God  himself,  "  in  righteous- 
ness and  true  holiness  ;"  having  in  his  nature  no  one  stain 
of  impurity,  and  no  one  trace  of  imperfection,  to  mar  the 
dignity  and  grandeur  with  which  he  had  been  invested. 
All  was  light  in  his  understanding :  it  admitted  truth  with- 
out prejudice,  and  without  any  necessary  error,  except  such 
as  proceeded  from  mere  ignorance.     All  was  rectitude  in 
his  will :  it  was  an  exact  copy  of  the  will  of  God,  as  the 
impression  on  the  wax  is  of  the  seal  by  which  it  has  been 
produced,  and  it  invariably  followed,  as  the  needle  doth 
the  pole,  the  manifestations  of  duty  which  God  revealed. 
All  was  harmony  in  his  affections  :  God*s  law  was  written 
on  his  heart,  and  his  affections  were  so  many  ready  servants 
to  execute  what  reason  dictated  and  the  will  approved. 
Then  the  entire  soul  was  the  habitation  of  the  Deity;  and, 
as  a  faithful  mirror,  reflected  the  glory  of  the  communicable 
perfections  of  its  divine  Creator ;  while  the  body,  where 
yet  unbridled  appetite  and  lawless  lust  had  found  no  place, 
yielded  all  its  members  "  as  instruments  of  righteousness 
unto  God."     Such  once  was  man.     God  could  not  but  be 
pleased  with  the  work  of  his  own  hands,  for  it  was  "  very 
good  :"  and,  as  the  present  mark  of  his  regard,  he  "  crowned 
him  with  glory  and  honor,"  with  bliss  and  immortality,  and 
surrounded  him  with  blessings  of  every  kind.     Nature  with- 
in him,  and  nature  without  him,  conspired  to  promote  his 


THE   SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


15 


enjoyment.  Within,  all  was  peaceful,  serene,  and  happy. 
The  soul,  like  the  glassy  surface  of  the  ocean,  unruffled  by 
the  gentlest  breeze,  had  yet  felt  no  tumult  of  contending 
corruptions  ;  but,  satisfied  in  itself,  conscious  of  innocence, 
blessed  with  the  unclouded  manifestations  of  divine  favor, 
and  the  most  intimate  and  endearing  communion  with  its 
Creator,  it  experienced  ineffable  delight,  and  constant, 
overflowing  joy.  Without,  all  nature  was  formed  to  con- 
tribute to  his  happiness.  But,  though  the  whole  world 
was  happy  and  beautiful,  and  had  received  the  divine 
approbation  and  blessing,  it  was  not  throughout  deemed  a 
fit  residence  for  its  newly-formed  master;  but  he  was 
placed  in  Eden — in  a  garden  planted  by  the  Lord — a  fair, 
embalmed,  and  lovely  spot,  which  had  been  enriched,  by 
the  mercy  and  grace  of  Jehovah,  with  everything  that  could 
minister  to  delight  and  joy ;  and  full  of  the  shadows  and 
similitudes  of  "  a  better  country',  that  is,  a  heavenly." 
There  he  was  surrounded  with  everything  that  was  "  good 
for  food  and  pleasant  to  the  eye  ;"  encircled  by  ever-living 
beauty  and  magnificence :  while  in  every  object  he  con- 
templated, he  saw  reflected,  in  an  endless  diversity  of 
forms,  the  beauty,  greatness,  and  excellence  of  Jehovah. 
In  this  situation,  removed  far  from  fear  and  sorrow,  disease 
and  death,  he  was  formed  for  endless  improvement.  His 
mind,  like  that  of  angels,  was  capable  of  continual  expan- 
sion, refinement,  and  elevation ;  and  his  life,  of  perpetual 
exaltation  in  worth,  usefulness,  and  honor ;  and  had  he 
continued  in  that  state,  he  would  have  known  no  change, 
but  from  glory  to  glorj' — from  higher  to  still  higher  bliss. 
For  such  high  favors,  intended  to  be  continued  to  his 
posterity,  God  might  have  demanded  from  him  whatever 
marks  of  allegiance  and  fidelity  he  chose  to  impose.  But 
herein,  how  wonderful  was  the  divine  goodness !  He 
exacted  no  burdensome  service ;  he  gave  him  only  one 
easy,  negative  command,  "  not  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  know- 


16 


THE   SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION' 


ledge  of  good  and  evil."  From  that  he  was  to  abstain,  as 
a  pledge  of  his  subjection,  and  as  an  exercise  of  his  obe- 
dience. Bliss  and  immortality  were  to  be  the  reward  of 
duty ;  misery  and  death  the  punishment  of  disobedience. 
"  In  the  day  thou  eatest  thereof  thou  shalt  surely  die,"  was 
the  sanction  of  the  divine  law.  How  equitable,  how 
gracious  the  terms !  However  men  may  be  disposed  to 
cavil,  who  would  not  have  been  content  to  rest  the  issue 
of  life  and  death  on  such  a  test  ?  Yet,  astonishing  to  tell, 
the  Scriptures  inform  us  that  man,  through  the  suggestion 
of  Satan,  that  fallen  spirit,  was  seduced  from  his  allegiance. 
His  heart,  beguiled  by  false  reasoning,  entertained  unhal- 
lowed desires  after  forbidden  knowledge.  Yielding  to  the 
influence  of  discontent,  and  presumptuously  aspiring  to  be 
like  the  Most  High,  he  hearkened  to  the  suggestions  of  the 
tempter :  in  a  word,  he  violated  the  precept,  and  he  incur- 
red the  penalty.  God  was  just,  and  man  was  undone  ;  he 
lost  his  uprightness,  became  subject  to  mortality,  and,  as 
the  nervous  original  expresses  it, "  died  the  death."  When 
Adam  fell,  all  fell  with  him.  Then,  as  far  as  human  help 
could  go,  our  destiny  was  decided ;  Eden  was  lost,  and 
heaven  was  lost,  not  to  him  alone,  but  to  the  human  race, 
who  were  involved  in  his  success  or  ruin.  Short  is  the 
dire  description ;  but  long,  and  dreadfully  felt,  the  conse- 
quence. A  thousand  questions,  which  a  proud  curiosity 
may  ask,  as  to  why  and  how  this  was  permitted,  the  Holy 
Ghost  hath  been  pleased  to  leave  unanswered.  The  fact 
is  clearly  revealed,  and  confirmed  by  incontrovertible  evi 
dence.  Where  revelation  is  express,  implicit  faith  becomes 
our  highest  wisdom:  to  object,  or  to  reason,  is  to  display 
the  spirit  of  infidelity.  There  are  some  who  have  treated 
the  subject  with  levity,  and  who  have  presumed  to  ask. 
How  could  one  instance  of  disobedience,  and  so  small  an 
act  of  disobedience  too,  produce  such  calamitous  eflects  ? 
In  answer  to  the  ignorant  skepticism  on  which  such  an 


THE   SOURCE   OF  AFFLICTION. 


17 


inquiry  is  founded,  let  it  be  observed,  that  the  command  of 
the  Deity,  with  regard  to  the  forbidden  fruit,  must  be  viewed 
as  connected  with  an  important  general  design ;  and  that 
the  obedience  rendered  by  man  to  that  command,  was  a 
kind  of  pledge,  with  respect  to  all  the  relations  existing 
between  the  creature  and  the  Creator ;  so  that  as  long  as 
the  commandment  was  obeyed,  all  those  relations  would 
be  observed  and  maintained ;  and,  when  it  was  broken,  all 
those  relations  would  be  violated.     Disobedience  could 
not  but  produce — and  disobedience  did  produce — those 
emotions  and  feelings  which,  in  their  nature,  were  tho- 
roughly  corrupt.      These   were,   for   instance,   unbelief, 
ambition,  sensuality,  and  ingratitude.     Unbelief,  because, 
by  it,  man  denied  God's  right  to  command,  and  questioned 
the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  the  test  he  had  appointed. 
Ambition,  because  he  aspired  to  be  as  God,  "knowing 
good  and  evil."     Sensuality,  because  he  wished  to  gratify 
mere  animal  appetite  ;  he  saw  that  "  the  tree  was  good  for 
food,  and  that  it  was  pleasant  to  the  eyes."     Ingratitude, 
because  it  was  in  opposition  to  the  Being  to  whom  he  was 
indebted  for  life,  and  happiness,  and  all  things ;  and  who 
had  spread  around  him  every  enjoyment  for  his  free  and 
full  participation.     It  is  easy,  therefore,  to  perceive,  that 
the  levity  which  has  been  alluded  to,  ought  to  be  con- 
demned and  repudiated  with  horror.     Ought  that  trans- 
gression to  be  deemed  light  and  insignificant  which  over- 
threw and  betrayed  every  existing  relationship  between 
man  and  his  Maker,  and  which  hurled  a  foul  insult  against 
every  attribute  of  the  everlasting  Godhead  ? 

How  fearful  and  calamitous  was  the  change  which  sin 
produced  in  the  nature  and  condition  of  man  !  When  Adam 
sinned,  he  was  banished  into  the  wilderness  of  this  world, 
and  excluded  from  communion  with  his  Maker,  whose  de- 
lights were  no  longer  with  the  sons  of  men,  and  who  now 
left  this  earth,  which  he  had  formerly  blessed,  under  a  curse, 


16 


THE  SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


the  just  penalty  of  sin.     Even  the  image  of  God  was  de- 
faced  in  man  ;— that  image  which  was  the  distinguishing 
glory  and  the  supreme  felicity  of  his  nature ;  and  he  be- 
came the  opposite  of  all  that  he  originally  was.     Dark  and 
enfeebled  in  his  understanding  in  the  things  of  God,— 
cold  and  lifeless  in  his  affections,— corrupt  and  disorderly 
m  his  passions  and  appetites,— perverse  and  rebellious  in 
his  conduct ;— in  a  word,  his  whole  moral  frame  was  un- 
hinged,  disjointed,  and  broken.     The  proof  of  this  soon 
became  palpable  and  undeniable.     It  was   seen  in  his 
Ignorance,  when  he  absurdly  attempted  to  hide  himself 
among  the  trees  of  the  garden  from  the  eye  of  omniscience ; 
— m  his  aversion  to  God,  otherwise  he  would  never  have 
fled  from  his  Maker,  but  rather  have  hasted,  on  the  wings 
of  desire,  to  the  place  of  the  divine  manifestation  ;— in  the 
disorderly  passions  which  became   predominant  in  his 
breast ;— pride,  for  he  refused  to  acknowledge  his  guilt  ;— 
ingratitude,  for  he  obliquely  upbraided  his  Creator  with  his 
gift,— as  though  it  had  been  a  curse,  rather  than  a  bless- 
ing,—« the  woman  whom  thou  gavest  me;"— want  of 
natural  affection,  for  he  endeavored  to  exonerate  himself 
from  blame  by  impeaching  the  wife  of  his  bosom.     The 
female  criminal  acts  the  same  unhumbled  part ;  she  neither 
takes  shame  to  herself,  nor  gives  glory  to  God,  nor  offers 
up  a  single  petition  for  pardon.     These  disastrous  results 
furmsh  us  with  the  best  key  to  open  the  meaning  of  the 
prohibitory  sanction.     They  prove,  beyond  any  argument, 
that  spiritual  death,  and  all  its  consequences,  were  com- 
prehended in  the  extent  of  the  threatening.     «  How  is  the 
gold  become  dim!  how  is  the  most  fine  gold  changed'" 
Who,— beholding  the  fearful  change,— can  reflect  on  man's 
original  beauty  of  holiness,  and  withhold  the  tear  of  sorrow  f 
How  art  thou  fallen,  son  of  the  morning !    When  Judah's 
sons,  on  quitting  the  scene  of  their  captivity,  returned  to 
Sion  to  build  again  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  the  new  found- 


THE   SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


19 


ation  could  only  be  laid  by  removing  the  splendid  ruins 
of  the  desolated  sanctuary ;  then  came  the  remembrance 
of  its  former  glories  fresh  upon  their  minds,  and  they  wept 
aloud.  And  have  not  we  cause  for  sorrow  when  we  be- 
hold the  spiritual  temple  of  the  Most  High  laid  desolate, 
and  swept  with  the  besom  of  destruction  ?  The  transgres- 
sion of  our  first  parent  did  not  end  with  himself, — it  was 
not  merely  personal ;  he  communicated  his  changed  and 
darkened  nature  to  his  descendants,  who  were  bom  after 
the  wretched  likeness  of  their  fallen  progenitor.  There- 
fore, when  this  fatal  catastrophe  had  taken  place,  the 
sacred  historian  varies  his  style,  and  with  a  remarkable 
peculiarity,  as  well  as  propriety  of  speech,  says,  "  Adam 
begat  a  son  in  his  own  [not  in  the  divine]  likeness."  The 
history  of  mankind,  from  the  fall  to  the  present  time,  has 
been,  in  consequence,  only  the  expansion  and  unfolding 
of  the  evil  heart  of  unbelief — ^the  principle  of  defection  and 
rebellion  in  man.  The  transgression  of  our  first  parent 
has  descended,  like  an  heir-loom,  to  his  posterity ;  entail- 
ing misery  and  corruption  from  one  generation  to  another. 
The  proofs  in  support  of  this  statement  are  cogent  and 
irrefragable.  The  Scripture  testimonies  are  almost  innu- 
merable ;  they  form  their  evidence  from  every  quarter ; 
and  constitute,  not  two  or  three,  but  a  whole  cloud  of  wit- 
nesses. From  the  moment  this  event  happened,  we  per- 
ceive the  posterity  of  Adam  treated  as  sinners ;  they  are 
placed  on  the  remedial  plan,  and  taught  to  expect  salva- 
tion entirely  from  the  interposition  of  unmerited  favor.  In 
every  sacrificial  institution, — in  every  Scriptural  definition 
of  the  nature  of  man, — but  especially,  in  the  ignominious 
sufferings  of  the  Son  of  God, — we  are  represented  as 
guilty,  and  viewed  as  worthy  of  death.  The  testimonies 
of  Scripture  on  this  subject  cannot  be  too  attentively  con- 
sidered. Let  the  mind  rest  on  such  passages  as  the 
following,  and   ponder  over  the  awful   apostasy  of  our 


20 


THE  SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


nature,  so  deep,  and  so  much  beyond  the  power  of  the 
creature  to  siurmount :  "  The  Lord  looked  down  from 
heaven  upon  the  children  of  men,  to  see  if  there  were  any 
that  did  understand,  that  did  seek  God.  Every  one  of 
them  is  gone  back,  they  are  altogether  become  filthy ;  there 
is  none  that  doeth  good ;  no,  not  one."  "  All  flesh  had 
corrupted  his  way  upon  the  earth."  "  Who  can  bring  a 
clean  thing  out  of  an  unclean  ?"  "  How  can  he  be  clean 
that  is  bom  of  a  woman  ?"  "  Behold,  I  was  shapen  in 
iniquity  ;  and  in  sin  did  my  mother  conceive  me."  "  That 
which  is  bom  of  the  flesh  is  flesh."  "  The  carnal  mind 
is  enmity  against  God."  "  Now  we  know,  that  whatso- 
ever things  the  law  saith,  it  saith  to  them  that  are  under 
the  law ;  that  every  mouth  may  be  stopped,  and  all  the 
world  become  guilty  before  God."  It  is  a  solemn  and 
affecting  consideration, — ^but  one  which  must  be  thoroughly 
and  distinctly  stated, — that  whatever  variety  there  may  be 
in  the  human  character, — whatever  modification  may  per- 
chance have  been  produced  by  science,  by  literature,  by 
education,  by  example,  or  by  any  mode  of  testimony  or 
interest  whatsoever, — yet  this  one  fact  remains  invariably 
and  unalterably  the  same, — that  man  is,  everywhere,  a 
sinner.  Yes,  whether  he  dwells  in  the  cast  or  the  west, 
in  the  north  or  the  south,  at  the  tropics  or  the  poles; 
whether  he  revels  amidst  scenes  of  luxury  and  refinement, 
or  occupies  the  abodes  of  gross  ignorance  and  barbarism ; 
in  every  period  of  his  history,  in  every  variety  of  his  con- 
dition, in  every  place  of  his  dwelling,  he  bears  the  same 
stamp  of  moral  degradation ;  he  exhibits  all  the  tokens  of 
a  fallen  nature, — unbelief,  ambition,  sensuality,  and  in- 
gratitude, with  all  their  vile  progeny  of  crimes ; — and 
exhibits  them  as  having  the  uncontrolled  empire  of  his 
heart. 

All  the  circumstances  of  man's  condition  correspond 
with  his  moral   debasement,  and  show  how  greatly  he 


THE   SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


21 


has  fallen   from  his  original  state.     We  see  the  ground 
cursed  for  his  sake,  and  bringing  forth  thorns  and  briers, 
instead  of  the  living  fruits  of  paradise.      We  see  man 
destined  to  labor  for  his  bread,  and  to  eat  that  bread  in  the 
sweat  of  his  brow.     Instead  of  standing  at  the  head  of 
this  lower  world,  as  its  heaven-appointed  sovereign,  he  is 
become  a  drudge — a  poor,  dependent  creature ;  and,  in  the 
evils  which  betide,  and  in  those  which  threaten  him  dayly, 
he  is  reduced  far  below  the  condition  of  the  brutes.     We 
see  him  enter  the  world  the  subject  of  weakness,  help- 
lessness, pain,  disease,  and  death.     The  first  cry  he  utters 
is  that  of  suffering.     In  making  the  journey  of  life,  he  is 
liable,  through  all  its  stages,  to  disappointment,  vicissitude, 
bereavement,   vexation,   and   sorrow.     All  nature    seems 
combined  to  eflfect  his  destruction  ;  and  innumerable  evils, 
like  inexorable  foes,  are  perpetually  tracking  his  steps 
through  every  course  of  life ;  while  death,  always  watching  for 
his  prey,  descends,  when  he  is  least  aware,  and  seizes  and 
bears  away  his  victim.     He  then  resigns  his  body  to  the 
earth  from  which  it  was  taken,  to  be  devoured  by  worms, 
dissolved  by  corruption,  and  changed  into  its  original  dust. 
Such  is  the  condition,  and  such  the  final  destiny,  of  man. 
In  no  condition  of  life  may  we  promise  ourselves  exemp- 
tion or  security.     The  vale  of  life  is,  indeed,  crowded 
with  travelers,  but  none  may  make  the  journey  of  life  ex- 
empt from  disquietude  or  pain ;  or  avoid  that  death  which 
is  exacted  from  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  Adam,  as  the 
proper  penalty  of  sin.     "  Rich  and  poor  shall  go  down  to 
the  grave,  and  worms  alike  shall  cover  them."     "  It  is  ap- 
pointed unto  all  men  once  to  die."     Though  the  ages  at 
which  the  allotment  is  suflfered  may  vary,  and  the  method, 
also,  may  be  greatly  diversified,  yet,  amid  the  variety  of 
modes  and  seasons,  the  path  is  one  and  the  same.     All 
these  are  but  so  many  avenues  leading  down  to  the  grave. 
Who  can  contemplate  these  sad  consequences  of  the 


22 


THE  SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


original  apostasy,  and  not  exclaim,  What  a  dreadful  thing 
is  sin?  and  never  should  the  evils  which  pervade  our 
world  be  viewed  by  us,  but  in  connection  with  sin,  the  fatal 
source  from  which  the  whole  proceeds.  Sin,  the  inva- 
riable antecedent;  misery,  the  invariable  consequence! 
Sin,  the  cause  ;  misery,  the  effect — the  demerit  of  the  one 
producing  the  desolation  of  the  other.  Child  of  mortality 
and  of  suffering,  forget  it  not !  approve  it,  and  apply  it. 
Ponder  the  solemn  thought,  that  one  sin  hath  introduced 
all  the  evils  by  which  mankind  is  afflicted.  Sin  hath 
spread  darkness,  desolation,  and  misery  around  our  path ! 
Sin  gave  existence  to  pain,  and  sickness,  and  death! 
Sin  inflicts  every  pang !  Sin  feeds  every  sorrow  !  Sin 
nerves  every  death-throe !  Sin  weaves  every  shroud ! 
Sin  forms  every  coflin !  Sin  digs  every  grave !  Sin 
writes  every  epitaph !     Sin  sculptures  every  monument ! 

Yes,  every  tear  which  anguish  has  wrung  from  the  eye 

every  sigh  that  has  heaved  the  laboring  bosom — every  cry 
of  lamentation — every  pain  which  has  invaded  the  peace 
of  man — every  bereavement  which  has  snapped  asunder 
the  ties  of  nature  and  of  friendship,  and  contracted  the 
circle  of  his  earthly  joys — every  disease  which  has  con- 
sumed his  strength — every  storm  which  has  beat  down  his 
possessions— is  the  dire  result  of  sin.     The  waste  and 
havoc  of  centuries  gone  by,  and  the  desolation  of  centuries 
yet  to  come,  all  reverberate  the  same  awful  sentence — 
''  These  are  the  fruits,  the  consequences  of  sin."     Yet  these 
are  but  its  first-fruits,  the  beginning  of  sorrows  ;  the  bitter 
consequences  are  not  limited  by  the  boundaries  of  mortality, 
— they  extend  to  the  eternal  world;  and,  if  you  would  see 
sin  in  all  the  enormity  of  its  character,  and  in  all  the  tre- 
mendousness  of  its  results,  go  in  imagination  to  the  brink 
of  that  fearful  pit,  which  the  word  of  revelation  hath  dis- 
closed to  your  view,  where 


THE  SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION.  23 

The  hopeless  soul, 
Bound  to  the  bottom  of  the  flaming  pool, 
Though  loth,  and  ever  loud  blaspheming,  owns 
*Ti8  justly  doom'd  to  pour  eternal  groans, 
To  talk  to  fiery  tempests,  and  implore 
The  raging  flame  to  give  its  fury  o'er. 
To  writhe,  to  toss,  to  pant  beneath  its  load, 
And  beEir  the  wrath  of  an  ofiended  Grod. 

Contemplate  from  its  margin  the  worm  that  dieth  not — the 
fire  prepared  for  the  devil  and  his  angels — the  blackness  of 
darkness — the  smoke  of  torment  that  ascendeth  up  for  ever 
and  ever ;  and,  when  you  have  contemplated  well  these 
direful  objects,  then  say — What  was  it  gave  to  that  worm 
its  sting,  but  sin  ?  What  was  it  gave  to  that  fire  its  inten- 
sity, but  sin?  What  was  it  gave  to  that  blackness  its 
density  and  terror,  but  sin  ?  What  was  it  gave  to  that  tor- 
ment its  bitter  agony,  but  sin  ?  What  was  it  gave  to  wo's 
wide  empire  its  dread  existence,  but  sin  ?  Methinks,  as 
the  inquiry  is  made,  a  shriek  is  heard  from  the  bottom  of 
the  flaming  abyss,  crying,  "  It  was  sin !     It  was  sin !" 

O  !  did  we  but  consider  how  God  hates  sin — did  we  but 
attend  to  the  present  marks  of  his  displeasure  against  it — or 
could  we  be  persuaded  really  to  believe  the  "  wrath  to  come," 
we  should  no  longer  be  disposed  to  treat  it  as  a  light  thing. 
O !  pray  for  the  enlightening  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
that  the  evil  of  its  nature  may  be  fully  disclosed  to  your 
mind  ;  and  never  be  content  with  your  view  of  sin,  until 
you  see  it  in  some  degree  as  He  sees  it,  who  is  "of  purer 
eyes  than  to  behold  iniquity ;"  and  in  whose  sight  it  is  **  the 
abominable  thing "  which  he  hateth. 

How  much  ought  we  to  admire  the  riches  of  that  divine 
mercy  which  hath  provided  a  remedy  against  an  evil  so 
dreadful !  The  very  same  Being  against  whom  the  trans- 
gressions of  the  human  race  have  been  directed,  has  him- 
self been  pleased  to  condescend,  in  mercy,  to  provide  a 
method  by  which  the  guilty  may  be  pardoned,  sanctified. 


KiPUHK  ..    ,.4Sr  -^^'^ 


^F 


24 


THE    SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


THE  SOURCE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


25 


and  saved.  God  hath  not  left  us,  as  he  left  the  angels  that 
sinned,  in  hopeless  despair  ;  but  hath  raised  up  a  Horn  of 
salvation  for  us  ; — he  hath  appointed  us  another  and  a  safer 
Covenant-head — the  second  Adam — by  whom  we  may 
escape  the  dreadful  ruin  due  to  transgression  under  the 
first  covenant.  In  conformity  with  this  design,  Jesus,  tho 
Son  of  God,  "  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us ;"  he 
took  upon  him  the  character  and  office  of  the  second  Adam. 
One  was  the  destroyer — the  other  was  the  restorer.  The 
one  sinned,  and  brought  death  upon  his  descendants — the 
other  was  righteous,  and  suffered  the  penalty  of  sin,  and 
gave  his  life  for  his  spiritual  posterity.  In  other  words, 
ho  took  upon  him  our  nature,  offered  himself  as  a  substi- 
tute for  the  guilty,  and  at  length  died  "  the  just  for  (or  in 
place  of)  the  unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  to  God."  Because 
we  deserved  shame,  he  was  loaded  with  infamy,  and  num- 
bered with  transgressors  ; — because  we  deserved  death,  he 
endured  the  pangs  of  dissolution  in  their  most  racking 
agonies  ; — because  we  were  obnoxious  to  the  curse  of  God, 
he  became  a  curse  for  us.  Glorious  propitiation  !  By  tfce 
substitution  of  Christ,  as  our  Redeemer,  in  our  stead,  and 
by  the  infliction  of  that  punishment  on  him  which  our  sins 
had  deserved,  the  law  was  magnified  and  made  honorable — 
and,  the  reasons  for  punishment  having  been  removed, 
God's  justice  is  satisfied  ;  and  now,  "  God  is  in  Christ  re- 
conciling the  world  unto  himself,  and  not  imputing  unto 
them  their  trespasses."  lie  hath  declared  his  satisfaction 
with  the  work  of  the  Redeemer  ;  and,  on  the  ground  of  that 
propitiation,  he  gives  to  every  sinner  free  access  to  his  throne. 
What  a  veil  is  hereby  thrown  over  the  deepest  gloom! 
What  an  effectual  door  of  hope  is  opened  to  sinners,  even 
the  vilest  and  worst !  Let  them  but  turn  unto  God  with 
sincere  humiliation,  and  sorrow  for  their  past  sins ;  and, 
in  the  exercise  of  faith  in  Jesus — a  believing  appropriation 
of  his  blessed  sacrifice — an  acceptance  of  God's  mercy 


as  displayed  in  the  death  of  his  Son,  to  the  exclusion  of 
all  human  merit,  and  their  guilt  shall  pass  away  like  "  the 
morning  cloud ;"  they  shall  obtain  acceptance  with  God, 
and  the  gift  of  eternal  life.     Pain  and  sickness,  bereave- 
ment and  sorrow,  they  must  still  endure  ;  but  their  afliic- 
tions  shall  no  longer  be  punitive,  but  corrective — a  wise 
and  salutary  discipline — promotive  of  their  best  and  most 
important  interests.     Natural  death  they  must  still  suffer ; 
the  flesh  must  become  the  food  of  worms,  and  remain  the 
prisoner  of  the  grave  until  the  trumpet  of  the  archangel 
shall  be  heard— but  it  shall  rest  in  hope — and  the  immor- 
tal spirit,  emancipated  by  death  from  a  scene  of  suffering 
and  sorrow,  shall  be  transmitted  to  higher  regions,  where 
the  inhabitants,  pure  as  God  is  pure,  cast  their  crowns  at 
his  footstool,  crying,  "  Alleluia !  Alleluia !  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty !  who  is,  and  was,  and  is  to  come  ;" — where  God 
liimself  is  with  them,  and  is  their  God — where  death  has  no 
more  dominion — and  where  a  divine  hand  wipes  away  all 
tears   from   their  eyes.     Matchless   mercy,   that   makes 
known  to  us  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation !     Glory  shall 
be  "  to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  and  good 
will  toward  men."     "Sing,  O  heavens!  and  be  joyful,  O 
earth  !  and  break  forth  into  singing,  0  mountains  !  for  the 
Lord  hath  comforted  his  people,  and  will  have  mercy  upon 
his  afflicted." 


26 


THE   DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


THE  DESIGN  OF  AFFLICTION. 

O  what  am  I,  that  I  should  dare  arraign 

Thy  righteous  dealings,  Judge  of  all  the  earth? 
A  rebel  and  transgressor  from  my  birth, — 

Conceived  in  sin, — the  heir  of  wrath  and  pain, 

What  cause  have  I  to  murmur  and  complain, 

When  thou  art  pleased  to  smite  ?  For,  hadst  thou  dealt 
In  righteous  judgment,  I  had  long  since  dwelt 

In  that  abyss,  where  prayer  itself,  t'  obtain 

The  slightest  mitigation  of  my  doom, 
Were  unavailing.     Let  me  rather  praise 

Thy  patience,  that  thou  dost  not  yet  consume 
So  vile  a  wretch :  O  no  !  Thy  word  of  grace 

Assures  me,  that  the  deepest  wounds  I  feel 

Are  given  in  mercy, — not  to  slay, — but  heal. 

"  THOU  SHALT  CONSIDER  IN  THINE  HEART,  THAT  AS  A  MAN  CHASTEN- 
ETH  HIS  SON,  SO  THE  LORD  THY  GOD  CHASTENETH  THEE."— Deut.  vii,  5. 

"  Show  me  wherefore  thou  contendest  with  me,"  said 
Job,  when,  in  the  bitterness  of  his  heart,  he  poured  out 
prayer  to  God.  The  request  proceeded  from  a  conviction 
that  his  affliction  was  of  God,  and  was  intended  to  accom- 
plish some  important  purpose,  in  connection  with  his  spi- 
ritual condition.  For  want  of  such  a  conviction,  many 
who  are  in  trouble  are  not  only  prevented  from  profiting 
by  their  afflictions,  but  their  distress  is  aggravated  and 
increased,  either  by  dwelling  exclusively  upon  the  instru- 
ments, or  subordinate  means  of  their  trouble ;  or  by  the 
perplexity  and  embarrassment  in  which  they  are  involved, 
from  their  being  unable  to  account  for  what  they  endure. 
But  "  affliction  cometh  not  forth  of  the  dust,  neither  doth 
trouble  spring  out  of  the  ground."  "  God  is  judge."  With 
him  is  the  number  of  our  days  ;  and  to  him  we  are  ulti- 
mately to  refer  the  variety  of  good  or  evil  with  which  they 
are  diversified.  Disease  is  the  messenger  of  his  will. 
He  appoints  the  "  wearisome  nights,"  and  days  of  sick- 


THE   DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


27 


i^ess.  He  directs  "  the  terror  by  night,"  and  "  the  arrow 
that  flieth  by  day,"  and  "  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at 
noon  :"  and  when  any  of  these  plagues  approach  our  dwell- 
ing, they  are  commissioned  by  God.  Are  we  deprived  of 
those  comforts  which  once  glad^kned  our  hearts  in  the 
house  of  our  pilgrimage  ?  It  is  the  Lord  that  hath  taken 
them  away.  Are  we  disappointed  in  our  fondest  hopes  ? 
have  we  looked  for  good,  and  behold  evil  hath  come  unto 
us  ?  have  all  our  endeavors  to  succeed  in  life  proved  abor- 
tive? to  what  shall  we  ascribe  the  failure,  but  to  the  over- 
ruling providence  of  the  Most  High  ?  "  Except  the  Lord 
build  the  house,  they  labor  in  vain  that  build  it."  The 
sons  of  Jacob  from  en\y  sold  their  brother  into  slavery, 
yet  Joseph  says,  "  It  was  not  you  who  sent  me  hither,  but 
God  ; — to  preserve  your  posterity  in  the  earth,  and  to  save 
your  lives  by  a  great  deliverance."  Part  of  the  affliction 
of  Job  was  produced  by  the  agency  of  men  ;  and  part  by 
the  more  immediate  agency  of  Heaven.  The  Sabeans  fell 
upon  his  oxen  and  his  asses ;  the  Chaldeans  upon  his 
camels,  and  carried  them  away,  and  slew  his  servants  with 
the  edge  of  the  sword ;  while  fire  from  heaven  consumed 
his  sheep  ;  and  a  wind  from  the  wilderness  smote  the 
house  where  his  family  was  feasting,  and  buried  them  in 
its  ruins  :  yet  Job  refers  the  calamities  he  sustained  to  the 
affliction  of  the  divine  hand.  He  knew  that  his  enemies 
could  have  no  power  against  him,  except  it  were  given 
them  from  above  ;  and  he  ascribes  the  misfortunes  which 
they  had  occasioned,  as  well  as  those  which  were  more 
apparently  and  immediately  the  infliction  of  Heaven,  to  the 
same  overruling  Providence,  which,  through  various  inter- 
mediate, yet  subordinate  agents,  distributes  unto  men  the 
portion  of  suflfering  they  are  appointed  to  undergo.  "  The 
Lord,"  he  saith,  "  hath  taken  away."  Such  a  reference 
of  affliction  to  the  will  and  appointment  of  Heaven  is  indis- 
pensable to  our  deriving  advantage  from  what  we  suffer. 


28 


THE   DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


When  we  behold  the  curse  as  coming  from  God,  the  con- 
clusion follows,  that  Infinite  Wisdom  must  have  an  im- 
portant end ;  and  that  this  end,  whether  known  or  unknown, 
must  be  every  way  worthy  of  God  ;  and  a  correspondent 
solicitude  is  experientsfcd  to  know  wherefore  he  contends 
with  us,  and  what  he  would  have  us  to  do.  Did  not  dayly 
observation  and  experience  teach  us  the  contrary,  we 
might  suppose  that  they  who  are  acquainted  with  divine 
truth  would  be  able  to  relieve  themselves  from  all  diffi- 
culty on  this  subject  by  two  plain  considerations  with 
which  they  must  be  familiar ; — I  mean  the  perfection  of 
God,  and  the  imperfection  of  man.  These  unfold  to  us 
the  character  and  design  of  our  afflictions. 

They  explain  to  us — the  character  of  our  ajflictions.  Our 
afflictions  are  not  to  be  regarded  as  resulting  from  the  care- 
less or  capricious  exercise  of  Almighty  power.  To 
conceive  of  God  as  arbitrary,  or  cruel,  would  be  to  regard 
him  as  unjust ;  than  which  nothing  can  be  more  base  and 
unworthy.  If  a  judge  condemned  a  man  to  show  that  he 
WAS  a  judge  ; — or  a  king  imprisoned  a  man  to  show  that  he 
WAS  a  king, — every  one  would  cry  out  against  him  ;  and 
shall  we  ascribe  such  conduct  to  the  divine  Being  ?  God 
forbid !  The  views  which  the  Bible  presents  of  the 
character  of  God  as  an  affectionate  father,  and  the  righte- 
ous moral  governor  of  his  intelligent  creatures,  and  of  our 
present  state  as  one  of  respite  and  trial,  satisfactorily  ac- 
count both  for  the  sufferings  which  men  endure,  and  for 
the  unequal  distribution  of  them.  As  God  is  to  be  regarded 
both  as  an  affectionate  father  and  a  righteous  judge,  so 
affliction  is  presented  in  Scripture  in  two  lights,  in  each 
of  which  it  is  compatible  with  the  most  perfect  benevo- 
lence in  the  divine  Mind.  It  is  there  represented  as  being 
partly  penal,  and  partly  corrective,  while  in  both  it  is 
declared  to  be  the  effect  of  sin.  In  neither  case  is  it  the 
spontaneous  infliction  of  One  who  delights  in  suffering  for 


THE   DESIGN  OF  AFFLICTION. 


29 


its  own  sake  ;  but  the  result  of  principles  from  which  no 
wise  father,  or  judge,  will  ever  depart.  A  good  father 
cannot  correct  his  children  for  his  own  pleasure,  but  only 
for  their  profit.  Can  God  then  intend  the  infliction  for 
evil  ?  Can  he  take  pleasure  in  our  misery?  Can  he  punish, 
merely  to  pain  ?  Far  be  such  a  thought  from  our  minds. 
An  appeal  to  experience  must  in  this  case  be  decisive. 
Are  you  a  father,  and  do  you  feel  the  tender  yearnings  of 
paternal  affection  ?  O  say,  then,  did  you  ever  take  the 
rod  into  your  hand  from  a  pleasure  you  felt  in  tormenting 
your  children  ?  Did  the  smart  it  produced  ever  yield  you 
gratification  ?  Nay,  did  you  not  feel  more  pain  than  you 
actually  inflicted  ?  Yet  you  felt  it  to  be  imperative  not  to 
spare  the  rod.  Infliction  was  not  the  result  of  arbitrary  power, 
or  of  a  deficiency  of  kindness ;  but  the  evidence,  the  expres- 
sion of  love.  It  was  dictated  by  affection,  and  a  concern 
for  the  welfare  of  your  children.  You  discovered  in  them 
evils  which  required  to  be  corrected ;  an  eager  pursuit  of 
pernicious  gratification,  which  it  became  necessary  to  re- 
press ;  and  to  have  connived  at  their  indiscretions — to 
have  neglected  the  proper  exercise  of  discipline — would 
have  been  as  ruinous  to  their  interests,  as  dishonorable  to 
your  own  character.  Chastisement  is  not  less  the  effect  of 
God's  parental  love ;  and  the  conclusion  is  so  much  the 
more  decisive,  inasmuch  as  the  fathers  of  our  flesh  are 
sinful,  whereas  God  is  absolutely  and  infinitely  perfect. 
With  him  there  are  none  of  the  mistakes,  or  infirmities, 
incident  to  human  nature.  He  knows  the  exact  measure 
of  discipline  of  which  we  stand  in  need ; — he  knows  the 
proper  time  of  applying  it ;  and  the  perfection  of  his  na- 
ture exempts  him  from  all  suspicion  of  cruelty  or  caprice. 
He  afflicts  not  willingly,  but  only  when  needs  be ;  and 
invariably  for  our  profit.  The  discipline  by  which  the 
ends  of  his  moral  government  are  accomplished  is  not  less 
in  accordance  with  perfect  benevolence. 


30 


THE    DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


Regarding  the  divine  Being  as  the  moral  governor  and 
judge  of  mankind,  we  cannot  fail  to  understand  that  he 
must  put  a  difference  between  the  righteous  and  the  wicked ; 
that  the  holiness  and  justice  which  are  essential  attributes 
of  his  nature  will  not  allow  him  to  pass  by  the  violation  of 
his  laws,  or  be  indifferent  to  an  evil  which  not  only  subverts 
his  designs,  but  destroys  the  welfare  of  his  creatures  ;  that 
acts  of  disobedience  must  necessarily  be  followed  by  cor- 
responding marks  of  his  displeasure  ;  that  his  administration 
may  require  the  sanction  of  punishment,  and  that  the  per- 
fection of  his  character  may  thus  become  the  very  strongest 
reason  for  the  infliction  of  suffering,  where  his  law  has  been 
dishonored,  and  his  authority  contemned.  Yet,  in  none  of 
his  dispensations,  however  painful,  does  he  take  pleasure 
in  inflicting  unnecessary  suffering,  or  in  making  his  crea- 
tures unhappy.  Take  a  parallel  case  as  an  illustration  : 
Suppose  a  man,  distinguished  by  the  utmost  amiability  and 
benevolence  of  disposition,  invested  with  the  oflice  of  a 
magistrate,  or  judge,  and  called  upon  to  sit  in  judgment 
over  the  liberty  or  life  of  another  ;  and  can  you  not  suppose 
that,  while  every  feeling  within  inclines  him  to  the  side 
of  mercy,  and  induces  a  tender  solicitude  for  his  reforma- 
tion and  happiness,  he  may,  notwithstanding,  cherish  such 
an  abhorrence  of  evil,  and  such  an  undeviating  regard  for 
the  happiness  and  well-being  of  society,  as  to  consign  the 
prisoner  to  a  dungeon  or  the  scaffold,  and  that,  too,  with 
the  perfect  conviction  that  it  was  right  and  good  so  to  do — 
while  still  every  sentiment  of  his  heart,  if  it  could  be  dis- 
closed, would  bear  witness  that  he  afllicted,  not  willingly,  but 
as  the  result  of  principles,  from  which  he  felt  it  impossible 
to  depart  ?  Such  a  judge  is  God ;  and  the  sufferings  which 
he  inflicts,  whether  they  be  viewed  as  corrective  orpenal,  are 
compatible  with  the  loftiest  benevolence  in  the  divine  Mind. 

Further,  men  are  not  only  represented  in  Scripture  as 
the  subjects  of  a  moral  government,  but  as  subjects  placed 


THE    DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


31 


in  a  state  of  probation  and  trial,  under  a  remedial  system 
— a  scheme  of  redeeming  mercy.     The  whole  is,  there- 
fore, necessarily  restorative.     Herein  it  differs  from  the 
dispensation  established  in  paradise.     While  man  retained 
his  original  innocence.  Providence  was  a  simple  continu- 
ance of  unmingled  blessings.     There  was  no  sin  ;  there 
could  be  no  suffering.     Earth  had  then  received  no  wound, 
had  suffered  no  blight ;    and  when  man,  by  yielding  to 
temptation,  became  subject  to  the  fearful  penalty  of  the 
law  he  had  violated,  the  economy  under  which  he  was 
placed  admitted  of  no  alternative,  afforded  no  mercy  to 
offenders,  but  imperatively  required  the  execution  of  the 
sentence,  which  was  eternal  death.     The  sufferings,  there- 
fore, which  followed  the  introduction  of  sin,  were  but  the 
harbingers — the  pledges — of  still  greater  suffering  in  the 
world  to  come.     But,  by  the  wondrous  scheme  of  redemp- 
tion, man  is  now  placed  under  a  new  economy — an  economy 
of  grace — the  result  of  pure  and  comprehensive  benevolence . 
This  state,  though  one  of  acknowledged  guilt  and  depravity, 
is  yet  one  of  delayed  punishment,  in  order  to  his  probation 
and  trial  for  an  everlasting  destiny  hereafter.     Sentence  has 
been  passed  against  him  as  guilty ;  but  the  sentence  has, 
for  a  time,  been  suspended  in  order  to  the  application  of 
means,  on  the  part  of  God,  for  his  recovery.     To  the  great 
moral  ends  of  this  economy,  the  discipline  of  aflliction  is 
in  many  respects  needful ;  and  hence  the  varied  sorrows 
with  which  God  has  seen  fit  to  visit  us.     Evils  are  now 
to  be  watched  and  provided  for ;  to  be  repelled,  or  amelio- 
rated.     Man's  depravity  must   be   restrained,  and  often 
punished.     His  thoughtlessness  must  be  roused  ;  and  those 
religious  considerations  which  he  would  uniformly  shun 
with  disgust,  must  frequently  be  forced  upon  him,  as  salu- 
tary and  necessary.     Thus  the  purpose  of  God  to  redeem 
and  save  man  is  made  the  basis  of  his  present  providential 
administration.     The  great  truth  now  made  prominent,  is, 


32 


THE   DESIGN  OF  AFFLICTION. 


that  God  "  will  have  all  men  to  come  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  truth  and  be  saved."     This  is  his  aim  in  all  his  dis- 
pensations.    If  he  keep  you  in  a  low  and  impoverished 
condition ;  if  he  remove  lover  and  friend  from  you  ;  if  he 
make  you  to  possess  months  of  vanity  and  weariness ; 
whatever  you  may  be  tempted  to  think  of  all  this,  his  object 
is  the  advancement  of  your  true  welfare.     Whatsoever, 
therefore,  may  be  the  nature  of  your  affliction,  you  may  be 
assured,  this   is   the   end  proposed.     If  this  end  be  not 
attained,  the  failure  must  be  ascribed  to  yourself.     It  is 
you  who  have  frustrated  the  kind  purpose  of  your  heavenly 
Father  toward  you.     In  the  form  prescribed  by  the  Esta- 
blished Church  for  the  visitation  of  the  sick,  the  author 
and  the  design  of  sickness  are  stated  with  great  propriety; 
and  the  passage  is  no  less  applicable  to  afflictions  of  what- 
ever kind :— «  Dearly  beloved,  know  thou  that  almighty 
God  is  the  author  of  life  and  death,  and  of  all  things  to 
them  pertaining,  as  youth,  strength,  health,  age,  weakness, 
and  sickness.     Wherefore,  whatsoever  be  your  sickness, 
know  you,  certainly,  that  it  is  God's  visitation.     And  for 
what  cause  soever  this  sickness  is  sent  unto  you,  whether 
It  be,  1st,  to  try  your  patience,  for  the  example  of  others ; 
and  that  your  faith  may  be  found  in  the  day  of  the  Lord, 
laudable,  glorious,  and  honorable,  to  the  increase  of  your 
endless  felicity ;  or  else  if  it  be  sent,  2dly,  to  correct  and 
amend  in  you  whatsoever  doth  offend  the  eyes  of  your 
heavenly  Father,  know  you,  certainly,  that  if  you  truly 
repent  you  of  your  sins,  and  bear  your  sickness  patiently, 
trusting  in  God's  mercy,  for  his  dear  Son,  Jesus  Christ's 
sake,  and  render  up  to  him  humble  thanks  for  his  fatherly 
visitation,  submitting  yourself  wholly  to  his  will,  it  shall 
turn  out  to  your  profit,  and  help  you  forward  in  the  right 
way  to  life  everlasting." 

The  design  of  affliction  comprehends  a  variety  of  objects, 
varying  according  to  the  nature  of  our  spiritual  condition, 


THE   DESIGN  OF   AFFLICTION. 


33 


and  the  peculiarity  of  our  circumstances.     Afflictions  are 

intended — 

To  turn  us  from  our  iniquities.     Sin  is  an  evil  incom- 
parably worse  in  its  nature,  and  more  terrible  in  its  conse- 
quences, than  any  temporal  affliction  with  which  we  can  be 
visited.     It  defiles  our  nature,  subjects  us  to  the  condem- 
nation of  the  divine  law,  separates  us  from  God,  and  ren- 
ders us  liable  to  eternal  misery.     Now  the  chastisements 
we  endure  are  medicinal  applications  for  the  cure  of  sin. 
Under  this  view,  the  mercy  in  which  they  originate  is 
most  apparent.     The  conversion  of  the  sinner  is  often 
effected  in  this  way.     Such  is  the  infatuation  of  men,  that 
they  are  seldom  convinced  of  the  evil  of  sin  by  the  law  of 
God,  until  they  are  made  to  feel  its  bitter  effects.     "  Thine 
own  wickedness  shall  correct  thee,  and  thy  backsliding  shall 
reprove  thee ;  know,  therefore,  and  see  that  it  is  an  evil 
thing  and  bitter,  that  thou  hast  forsaken  the  Lord  thy  God, 
and  that  my  fear  is  not  in  thee,  saith  the  Lord  God  of 
hosts."     The  instructions  of  the  rod  are  more  impressive 
than  those  of  the  word ;  they  render  us  more  attentive  to 
God's  voice,  and  more  disposed  to  serious  consideration. 
In  the  full  tide  of  health  and  worldly  prosperity,  men  are 
too  often  forgetful  of  spiritual  things,  and  inattentive  to  the 
condition  of  their  souls.     The  bustle  and  anxiety  of  busi- 
ness, the  excitement  of  passion,  and  the  intoxicating  influ- 
ence of  pleasure,  drown  the  voice  of  God,  and  of  conscience, 
and  cause  men  to  walk  on  heedlessly,  "  after  the  imagina- 
tion of  their  own  heart :"  but,  when  affliction  comes  upon 
them,   the  wandering  mind  is  called  home,  reflection  is 
forced  upon  the  sinner;    conscience,  which  before  had 
seldom  occasioned  disturbance,  is  aroused  from  its  lethargy, 
and  exerts  a  power  which  causes  the  sinner  to  tremble. 
It  brings  his  past  sins  to  remembrance,  and  sets  them  in 
order  before  his  eyes,  and  inspires  him  with  fear  and  dread, 
in  the  view  of  their  number,  their  aggravation,  and  their 

2* 


34 


THE   DESIGN  OF  AFFLICTION. 


consequences.  It  is  the  observation  of  Elihu,  "  If  they  be 
bound  in  fetters,  and  be  holden  in  cords  of  affliction,  then 
he  showed  them  their  work  and  their  transgressions,  that 
they  have  exceeded.  He  openeth  also  their  ear  to  disci- 
pline, and  commandeth  that  they  return  from  iniquity." 
In  numberless  instances,  the  most  painful  dispensations 
have  been  made  the  happy  means  of  directing  the  wander- 
ing steps  of  men  from  the  labyrinth  of  sin  and  death,  into 
the  path  of  wisdom,  purity,  and  eternal  life.  How  many, 
with  gratitude,  have  adopted  the  language  of  the  Psalmist, 
"  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted  I*'  "  Before 
I  was  afflicted  I  went  astray ;  but  now  have  I  kept  thy 
word."  The  Athenian  said,  "  I  should  have  been  lost  if  I 
had  not  been  lost ;"  and  numbers  may  apply  the  same  remark 
to  their  spiritual  condition.  Where  did  Manasseh  find  his 
father's  God,  but  in  affliction  ?  He  was  the  son  of  good 
Hezekiah ;  but  every  pious  principle  of  his  education  had 
been  corrupted  by  power,  wealth,  and  pleasure ;  he  became 
proverbial  for  wickedness,  and  would  have  gone  on,  till  he 
had  filled  up  the  measure  of  his  iniquity,  but  God  hedged 
up  his  way  with  thorns.  "  When  he  was  in  affliction,  he 
sought  the  Lord  his  God,  and  humbled  himself  greatly 
before  the  God  of  his  father,  and  prayed  unto  him  ;  and  he 
was  entreated  of  him,  and  heard  his  supplication,  and 
brought  him  again  to  Jerusalem,  unto  his  kingdom.  Then 
Manasseh  knew  that  the  Lord  he  was  God."  What  made 
the  prodigal  think  of  home,  but  famine  ?  In  the  days  of 
his  prosperity  he  was  vain,  ungrateful,  and  rebellious  ;  but 
when  he  began  to  be  in  want,  then  he  came  to  himself, 
and  said,  "  I  will  arise  and  go  to  my  father,  and  will  say 
unto  him.  Father,  I  have  sinned  against  heaven  and  in  thy 
sight,  and  am  no  more  worthy  to  be  called  thy  son ;  make 
me  as  one  of  thy  hired  servants."  Sinners  will  not  believe 
the  evil  of  sin  until,  by  painful  experience,  they  are  con- 
vinced of  the  evil  they  have  done,  by  the  evil  they  suffer. 


THE    DESIGN   OF   AFFLICTION. 


35 


Affliction  bows  down  the  stubborn  heart,  and  makes  it 
humble  and  relenting.  Even  Pharaoh,  who,  in  his  pros- 
perity, presumptuously  demanded, "  Who  is  the  Lord,  that 
I  should  obey  him  ?"  became  an  humble  suppliant  in  the 
time  of  his  distress  :  "  And  Pharaoh  sent  and  called  for 
Moses  and  Aaron,  and  said  unto  them,  I  have  sinned ;  the 
Lord  is  righteous,  and  I  and  my  people  are  wicked.  En- 
treat the  Lord  that  there  be  no  more  mighty  thunderings 
and  hail."  We  often  feel  for  those  who  have  been  reduced 
and  afflicted.  But  if,  in  their  prosperity,  they  forgot  God 
that  made  them,  and  lightly  esteemed  the  Rock  of  their 
salvation,  and  in  their  adversity  have  been  induced  to  cast 
away  their  sins,  and  to  cry,  "  Surely  it  is  meet  to  be  said 
unto  God,  '  I  have  borne  chastisment,  I  will  not  offend  any 
more  ;  that  which  I  see  not,  teach  thou  me  ;  if  I  have  done 
iniquity,  I  will  do  no  more  ;' "  then  these  are  the  best  days 
they  ever  saw,  and  they  will  draw  forth  their  praises  for 
ever.  This,  my  suffering  friend,  may  be  your  case  ;  and 
will  be,  if  you  flee  from  your  sins  unto  God,  and  commit 
your  cause  into  his  hand ;  then  shall  you  experimentally 
acknowledge,  "  I  know  in  faithfulness  thou  hast  afflicted 


Hie. 


?? 


Affliction  is  sent  to  prevent  evil.  "  I  withheld  thee 
from  sinning  against  me  ;"  so  said  God  to  Abimelech,  king 
of  Gerar,  when  he  went  to  take  Sarah,  Abraham's  wife. 
But  it  will  truly  apply  to  every  individual  of  the  human 
race,  though  not  in  the  same  circumstances.  Some  men 
have  gone  great  lengths  in  iniquity,  and  have  furnished 
fearfid  specimens  of  the  depravity  of  human  nature ;  yet 
even  these  would  have  been  much  worse,  but  for  the  re- 
straints put  upon  them  by  the  Almighty.  The  vilest  cha- 
racters that  ever  lived  would  have  gone  to  much  greater 
lengths  of  wickedness  had  they  not  been  checked  and 
hindered.  You,  perhaps,  have  not  sinned  as  some  others  ; 
but  you  know  not  how  much  you  owe  to  God  for  the 


36 


THE   DESIGN   OF   AFFLICTION. 


restraints  of  his  hand.     It  is  likely  you  would  have  re- 
sembled some  of  those  whom  you  condemn,  had  you  been 
placed  in  the  same  circumstances,  and  exposed  to  the  same 
excitements.     The  case  of  Hazael  is  a  striking  one :   in 
private  life  he  abhorred  the  thought  of  inhumanity.     When 
the  man  of  God  viewed  him  with  tears,  and  predicted  the 
cruelties  of  his  future  reign,  he  was  filled  with  horror,  and 
exclaimed,  "  Is  thy  servant  a  dog,  that  he  should  do  this 
thing?"     "Yet,"  as  Matthew  Henry  remarks,  "  after  all, 
the  dog  did  it."     He  went  forward—reached  the  foot  of 
the   throne — ascended    it — exchanged   the   man    for   the 
tyrant ;  and  became  the  very  monster  he  had  execrated. 
The  affliction  you  are  now  suffering  may  be  designed  to 
prevent,  as  well  as  to  recover;  to  render  transgression 
more  difficult ;  to  fence  in  your  path,  that  you  may  be  pre- 
served from  going  further  astray ;  to  put  a  check  upon  the 
depravity  of  your  nature,  which  might  otherwise  involve 
you  in  some  heinous  transgression.     In  such   case  the 
affliction  is  most  wise  and  merciful.     "  Therefore,"  says 
God,  "  behold,  I  will  hedge  up  thy  way  with  thorns,  and 
make  a  wall  that  she  shall  not  find  her  paths ;  and  she 
shall  follow  after  her  lovers,  but  she  shall  not  overtake  them ; 
and  she  shall  seek  them,  but  shall  not  find  them ;  then 
shall  she  say,  *  I  will  go  and  return  to  my  first  husband, 
for  then  it  was  better  with  me  than  now.' "     The  metaphor 
is  taken  from  a  husbandman,  who,  to  keep  his  cattle  in  the 
pasture  and  prevent  their  going  astray,  fences  them  in ; 
and  the  sharper  the  hedge,  the  better.      Thus  God  re- 
solves to  make  our  rovings  difficult.     If  we  will  go  astray, 
we  must  smart  for  it.     If  lighter  afflictions  avail  not,  he 
will  employ  heavier.     If  we  be  sufficiently  rebellious  and 
perverse  to  break  through  thorns,  and  go  on,  though  wounded 
and  bleeding,  he  will  employ  stones  as  well  as  brambles  ; 
he  will  make  a  wall  around  us ;  he  will  present  insuper- 


THE   DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


37 


able  difficulties,  and  effectually  stop  us  in  all  the  ardor  of 
our  schemes  and  enterprises. 

This  view  of  the  subject  is  deeply  interesting  to  the 
Christian  as  well  as  to  the  sinner :  and  the  due  considera- 
tion of  it  will  prevent  much  distress  and  perplexity  of  mind. 
It  not  unfrequently  occurs  that  such  a  one,  when  visited 
with  calamity,  finds  himself  unable  to  discover  any  parti- 
cular reason  for  its  infliction.     Though,  it  is  true,  he 
always  sees,  in  his  general  conduct,  unworthiness  and 
imperfection  sufficient  to  render  him  vulnerable  to  trouble  ; 
yet  he  cannot  charge  himself  with  having  willfully  trans- 
gressed the  word  of  the  Lord.     "I  have  endeavored,"  he 
says,  "  to  examine  and  prove  myself  by  the  balance  of  the 
sanctuary  ;  still,  after  the  most  scrupulous  investigation,  I 
cannot  discover  any  sin  which  I  have  designedly  indulged, 
or  any  duty  which  I  have  knowingly  omitted,  or  any  idol 
which  I  have  set  up  in  opposition  to  God.     In  all  my 
ways  I  have  been  endeavoring  to  observe  the  apostolic  rule, 
"  Whether  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to 
the  glory  of  God."     But  He  who  formed  the  heart  know- 
eth  the  secrets  of  the  heart.     He  sees  the  future  in  the 
present ;  the  effect  in  the  cause.     He  knows  how  much 
our  character  is  formed  and  unfolded  by  circumstances- 
how  prone  we  are  to  change  with  events — how  the  friction 
of  certain  objects  quickens  dormant  corruption,  and  excites 
to  transgression.     When,  therefore,  he  sees  us  in  danger 
—when  our  situation  is  becoming  pregnant  with  tempta- 
tion—when our  principles  are  likely  to  yield  to  the  exci- 
tation of  surrounding  circumstances,  he  mercifully  interposes 
to  save  us  from  the  threatening  evil.     By  removing  an  en- 
snaring object — by  placing  us  in  new  circumstances — by 
disappointing  some  favorite  scheme— by  imbittering  some 
special  enjoyment— by  breaking  in  upon  some  connection, 
he  prevents  the  evil  which  he  foresees,  and  thereby  pre- 


38 


THE   DESIGN   OF   AFFLICTION. 


serves  us  from  danger.     Ah,  Christian !  you  see  not  the 
pit-fall,  but  God  sees  it ;  and  is  not  the  blow  which  causes 
you  to  start  back,  and  enter  another  path,  an  act  of  kind- 
ness ?     You  were  not  vain  and  worldly,  but  God  saw  that 
you  were  unable  to  resist  a  continued  tide  of  prosperity — 
that  it  would  flatter  you  into  self-importance — attach  you 
too  much  to  earth,  and  become  a  barrier  between  you  and 
things  eternal ;    and  therefore   he  has   visited  you  with 
losses  and  disappointments — he  has  caused  this  scheme 
to  fail,  and  that  purpose  to  miscarry,  and  the  mean  which 
you  were  employing  to  promote  your  elevation  to  become 
the  occasion  of  your  downfall.     You  had  not  worshiped 
the  creature ;  but  the  growing  fondness  would  soon  have 
induced  an  idolatrous  attachment,  and  have  divided  your 
heart  with  him,  had  he  not  taken  away  the  desire  of  your 
eyes  at  a  stroke.     You  had  not  been  drawn  aside  from 
duty ;  but  your  situation  was  one  that  brought  you  into 
perpetual  collision  with  circumstances  and  objects  advan- 
tageous to  your  temporal  interests,  but  inimical  to  your 
spirituality,  and  therefore  he  forced  you  out  of  it ;  and, 
perhaps,  employed  the  treachery  of  a  false  friend,  or  the 
malice  of  an  enemy,  for  the  purpose,     O !  how  much  evil 
has  God  often  prevented  by  his  restraining  providence, 
and  how  great  in  consequence  are  our  obligations  to  his 
mercy !    It  is  proverbially  said,  and  the  truth  of  the  senti- 
ment has  secured  for  it  general  sanction,  "  that  prevention 
is  better  than  cure."     The  remark  applies  especially  to 
our  moral  failures.     The  consequences  of  transgression 
are  often  irreparable  ;  the  sin  may  be  repented  of,  and  for- 
given, but  the  effects  remain,  and  follow  us  to  the  grave. 
Take   David  as  an  example.     He  fell  by  transgression, 
and  was  reclaimed  and  restored  to  divine  favor ;  but  his 
sin  still  followed   him.     In  the   death  of  his   child — in 
the  sword  which  never  departed  from  his  house — in  the 
scandal  which  his  conduct  reflected  upon  religion — in  the 


THE    DESIGN  OF   AFFLICTION. 


39 


jeers  and  scoff's  of  the  ungodly — in  the  dreadful  eclipse 
which  his  reputation  sustained — in  the  remorse  and  an- 
guish he  experienced — in  the  blot  and  dishonor  which  will 
rest  on  his  character  to  the  end  of  time,  we  see  the  bitter 
effects  of  transgression.      View  in  contrast  the  case  of 
Joseph  :    he  was    assailed  by  the  same  temptation,  and 
preserved :  thus  he  was  not  only  saved  from  the  guilt  and 
consequences  of  sin,  but  he  was  rendered  eminently  use- 
ful as  an  example  ;  he  retained  his  peace  of  mind,  and  a 
halo  of  glory  was  thrown  around  his  character,  which  will 
render  it  an  object  of  pleasing  and  useful  contemplation  so 
long  as  human  nature  shall  need  an  incentive  to  purity  and 
obedience.     We  know  not  how  much  we  owe  to  God  for 
our  preservation  from  evil,  nor  can  we  know  while  we  are 
in  this  world  ;  but  we  may  surely  know  sufficient  to  make 
us  not  only  submissive,  but  thankful.     Where  is  the  Chris- 
tian, who,  on  looking  back  upon  his  past  life,  may  not  trace 
out  many  instances  of  God's  gracious  interference  for  the 
prevention  of  evil  ?  Hence  David,  when  he  had  been  hinder- 
ed from  eflTecting  a  purpose  of  revenge,  exclaimed, "  Blessed 
be  the  Lord  God  of  Israel  which  sent  thee  this  day  to 
meet  me  ;  and  blessed  be  thy  advice  ;  and  blessed  be  thou 
which  hast  kept  me  this  day  from  avenging  myself  with 
my  own  hand."     Who  is  not  under  obligation  to  God  for 
the  same  preventing  grace  ?     One  ought  to  say,  "  Blessed 
be  God  for  that  affliction,  which  compelled  me  to  relinquish 
a  situation  I  deemed  so  advantageous ;  but  in  which  I  now 
see  I  should  have  fallen  into  divers  temptations,  and  a 
snare  by  which  I  might  have  been  drowned  in  destruction 
and  perdition."     Another  ought  to  say,  "  Blessed  be  God 
for  that  assault  of  calumny  ;  I  was  in  danger  of  rising  too 
hif^h  in  my  own  esteem — of  attaching  too  much  importance 
to  human  opinion — of  regarding  the  praise  of  men  more 
than  the  approbation  of  God  ;  but  by  being  abased  and  laid 
low,  I  have  been  brought  down  from  the  pinnacle  from 


40 


THE    DESIGN  OF   AFFLICTIOX. 


THE   DESIGN  OF  AFFLICTION. 


41 


which  I  might  have  fallen  and  perished,  and  placed  in  a 
situation  of  safety."  Another  ought  to  say,  "  Blessed  be 
God  for  that  loss  in  trade  ;  but  for  that  I  should  have  be- 
come eager,  and  grasping,  and  speculating — I  should  have 
made  haste  to  be  rich  ;  but  that  gave  me  a  timely  check, 
it  turned  my  hope  upward — and  now.  Lord,  what  wait  I 
for?  my  hope  is  in  thee."  To  these  interpositions  of 
God's  providence,  we  all  owe  much  of  the  innocency,  and, 
in  some  respects,  the  blamelessness  of  our  lives  ;  to  this 
it  is  to  be  ascribed  that  we  have  not  been  a  scandal  to  the 
gospel — a  shame  to  the  good — a  stumbling-block  to  the 
weak — and  a  scorn  to  the  bad. 

Affliction  is  sent  for  purposes  of  trial.  It  belongs  essen- 
tially to  probation  that  we  should  be  tried,  and  it  is  with 
this  view  that  afflictions  are  often  appointed.  In  this  case 
they  are  in  the  nature  of  tests  applied  to  our  principles  and 
dispositions :  they  are  experiments  employed  to  discover 
the  reality  and  the  degree  of  the  good  or  evil  that  is  in  us. 
Not  that  this  is  unknown  to  God,  but  it  is  unknown  to  us ; 
and  nothing  tends  so  effectually  to  develop  it,  as  that 
change  of  circumstances  which  awakens  latent  energies, 
and  renders  prominent  our  prevailing  principles  and  dis- 
positions. We  learn  that  the  whole  course  of  the  divine 
procedure  toward  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness  partook 
of  the  nature  of  a  trial ;  it  was  to  humble  them  and  prove 
them,  to  know  what  was  in  their  heart,  whether  they  would 
keep  his  commandments  or  no.  With  this  view,  he  was 
perpetually  exposing  them  to  difficulties  and  dangers, 
which  were  calculated  to  try  the  strength  of  their  faith, 
and  the  steadfastness  of  their  obedience.  At  one  time, 
their  fears  were  excited  by  the  report  of  the  warlike  con- 
dition of  their  enemies  ; — ai  another,  by  the  prospect  of 
being  starved  for  want  of  food  in  the  wilderness : — now 
they  were  distressed  by  excessive  thirst,  where  no  water 
could  be  had ; — and  then  they  were  terrified  by  the  ap- 


pearance of  dreadful  serpents,  whose  venomous  bite  caused 
instant  death.     Without  this  process,  the  extent  of  their 
depravity  could  never  have  been  known,  either  by  them- 
selves or  by  others.     Do  we  not  need  also  to  be  proved  ? 
Are  we  not  in  constant  danger,  through  the  deceitfulness 
of  our  hearts,  of  forming  erroneous  views  of  our  moral 
condition,— of  thinking  that  the  evil  within  us  is  less,  or 
the  good  is  more,  than  it  really  is  ?     While  our  views  are 
in  these  respects  erroneous,  we  are  in  a  state  of  delusion; 
we  do  not  see  things  as  they  really  are,  but  are  totally  de- 
ceived  as  to  our  true  condition,  and  therefore  must  form 
a  wrong  judgment  respecting  everything  around  us  ;  for 
where  a  man  is  wrong  as  to  some  fundamental  principle,  his 
ignorance  will  possess  more  or  less  influence  with  respect 
to  a  great  variety  of  truths  which  are  dependent  upon  it. 
If  therefore,  a  man  has  not  a  proper  knowledge  of  himself, 
and  of  his  true  state,  he  can  form  no  right  judgment  con- 
cerning God,  or  of  his  dispensations;  whether  of  providence 
or  of  grace.    For  this  reason,  God  is  perpetually  subjectmg 
us  to  tests,  the  design  of  which  is  to  bring  us  acquainted 
with  the  secrets  of  our  own  hearts.     There  are  evils  from 
which  we  may  think  ourselves  exempt,  because  we  have 
been  in  conditions  which  have  sheltered  our  weakness. 
There  are  excellences  which  we  may  presume  upon  pos- 
sessing, only  because  we  have  never  been  called  to  display 
them      There  are  provocations  with  which  we  have  never 
been  tried,  the  effect  of  which  would  render  us  a  wonder 

to  ourselves.  ,    ,    .  1 1,   *i.  • 

How  often  do  the  poor  envy  the  rich  their  wealth,  their 
leisure,  their  influence,  and  their  opportunities  of  useful- 
ness '  "  O  !"  says  some  poor  Christian,  "  if  I  had  but  the 
property  and  the  power  of  doing  good  possessed  by  that 
man,  how  useful  would  I  be  ;-how  much  should  I  rejoice 
to  aid  the  cause  of  God,-to  befriend  the  poor,-to  cause 
the  heart  of  the  widow  and  the  orphan  to  sing  for  joy . 


42 


THE   DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


Providence  smiles  upon  him.     He  prospers  in  business, — 
riches  increase, — and  he  gains  the  elevation  he  desired  ; 
but  what  becomes  of  his  purposes  of  usefulness  ?     Alas  ! 
as  his  circumstances  change,  he  changes  also.     New  ob- 
jects and  relations  call  forth  new   feelings,  and  develop 
improbable  corruption.     As  riches  increase,  he  becomes 
anxious,  and  eager,   and  worldly  ;  his  desires  keep  out- 
growing his  possessions, — he  adopts  new  and  expensive 
habits, — he  yields  to  indulgences,  which  in  course  of  time 
become  necessary,  and  pursues  a  style  of  living  which 
causes  him  in  the  midst  of  fullness  to  be  in  straits  ;  so  that 
he  imagines  he  has  less  to  give  now  than  when  he  was  in 
poverty.     Here  prosperity  is  the  trial;    but  affliction   is 
often  sent  for  the  same  purpose.     The  rich  will  sometimes 
censure  the  poor  for  want  of  patience,  submission,  and 
contentment.     "  You  should  remember,"  says  one  of  these 
advisers  of  the  poor,  "  that  there  is  a  peculiar  blessedness 
connected  with  poverty ;    it  exempts  from  many  snares, 
and  is  connected  with  many  promises ;  it  is  the  path  in 
which  the  Saviour  himself  traveled  through  the  world,  and 
it  will  be  followed,  if  duly  improved,  by  a  rich  and  glorious 
recompense."     Presently,  perhaps,  the  circumstances  of 
this  prompt  reprover  are   so  changed,  as  to   bring   him 
strictly  under  the  operation  of  the  rule  or  principle  which 
he  has  so  ably  explained  and  applied  to  others.     He  first 
feels  a  surprise,  a  sort  of  inward  blushing,  that  he  should 
find  himself  so  indisposed  to  act  up  to  the  advice  he  had 
so  confidently  given, — then  a  regret  that  he  should  have 
so  committed  himself, — then  a  dislike  to  the  rule,  which  ho 
now  feels  to  be  utterly  repugnant  to  his  natural  inclina- 
tions,— and  finally,  perhaps,  he  attempts  to  explain  it  away, 
or  so  far  to  modify  it,  as  to  furnish  an  apology  for  his  want 
of  that  temper,  for  the  deficiency  of  which   he  had  so 
severely  censured  others. 

Sometimes  Christians  make  a  boast  of  their  attachment 


THE    DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


43 


to  the  cause  of  Christ :  they  appear  to  be  superior  to  all 
opposition,— they  are  confident  in  their  own  strength  and 
constancy,  and  are  disposed  to  be  severe  and  censorious 
toward  others  who  fall  into  error.     The  case  of  Peter  is 
an  example.     The  Saviour  had  warned  him  of  the  ap- 
proach of  temptation  ;  unconscious,  however,  of  his  weak- 
ness, he  boldly  professed  his  readiness  to  follow  his  Master 
even  unto  death,—"  I  will  lay  down  my  life  for  thee ;" 
nay,  he  even  places  himself  above  all  his  brethren,  and 
considers  himself  less  likely  to  fall  than  they,—"  Though 
all  men  should  be  oflfended  because  of  thee,  yet  will  I 
never  be  offended."     When  Peter  said  this  he  was  no 
doubt  sincere,— he  spoke  according  to  his  feehngs ;  but 
sincerity  is  not  constancy ;  there  is  a  goodness  compared 
to  the  "  morning  cloud  and  the   early  dew,  which  goeth 
away."     Peter  did  not  distinguish  between  an  impulse 
and  a  principle,  between  an  hour  of  ease  and  a  moment  of 
danger.     How  was  he  to  be  corrected  and  instructed  but 
by  trial  ?    He  was  therefore  put  to  the  test,  and  he  failed. 
When  danger  looked  him  in  the  face,  and  the   cross  to 
which  he  promised  to  follow  his  Master  stood  before  him, 
his  fears  predominated,  his  courage  fled.     To  shelter  him- 
self from  the  threatening  danger,  he  denied  his  Lord- 
denied  him  again  and  again— denied  him  with  oaths  and 
imprecations ;  and  became  in  consequence  an  object  of 
grief  and  abhorrence  to  himself.     In  thi%  way  afflictions 
are  rendered  humbling  to  the  Christian ;  they  show  him 
the  lurking  and  unsuspected  evils  of  his  heart ;  they  con- 
vince him  that  he  has  much  less  grace  than,  perhaps,  he 
presumed  on  possessing,  and  thus  they  excite  him  to  a 
closer  walk  with  God. 

But  trials  may  be  intended  for  the  manifestation  of  grace, 
as  well  as  for  the  detection  of  sin  and  error.  Look  at  Job. 
The  accuser  of  the  brethren  had  charged  him  with  serving 
God  from  interested  motives  ;    and  had  boldly  asserted, 


44 


THE   DESIGN  OF  AFFLICTION. 


that  if  his  possessions  were  withdrawn  he  would  curse 
God  to  his  face.  How  was  this  to  be  decided  ?  God 
allowed  Satan  to  strip  him  of  his  cattle,  his  servants,  and 
his  children.  What  was  the  result?  Instead  of  breaking 
out  into  rebellion,  he  worships,  and  says,  "  The  Lord  gave, 
and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  blessed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord."  Satan  was  disappointed,  but  not  silenced.  He 
now  affirms,  that  if  Job's  person  were  touched,  his  hypo- 
crisy would  be  rendered  apparent :  "  Behold,  he  is  in  thine 
hand,"  was  the  reply,  "  only  spare  his  life  ;"  and  presently 
Job  is  tried  to  the  uttermost.  See  him  covered  with  sore 
boils,  sitting  among  ashes,  and  scraping  himself  with  a 
potsherd.  Around  him  sit  his  friends,  who  cruelly  irritate 
his  wounds,  by  endeavoring  to  prove  that  uncommon  suf- 
fering is  the  mark  of  uncommon  guilt ;  while  his  wife, 
amazed  at  his  integrity,  derides  him  as  a  dotard,  and  asks, 
in  the  language  of  contempt,  "  Dost  thou  still  retain  thine 
integrity,  blessing  God  and  dying?" — for  such  alone  can 
be  considered  the  rational  rendering  of  her  words.  Here 
was  the  trial.  His  faith,  however,  sustained  him  :  "  in  all 
this  Job  sinned  not,  nor  charged  God  foolishly."  He  bore 
the  proof,  and  was  found  to  be  gold ;  but  he  was  not  free 
from  dross.  He  partially  failed  in  the  process,  and  even 
cursed  the  day  of  his  birth ;  nevertheless,  the  reality  and 
extent  of  his  grace  were  demonstrated — Satan  was  de- 
feated— God  was  glorified — religion  was  ornamented — Job 
himself  was  ultimately  benefited — and  an  example  of  meek 
submission  and  patient  endurance  was  furnished  for  the 
edification  of  the  church  to  all  succeeding  ages.  Thus 
God  often  proves  his  people.  He  places  them  for  a  time 
in  the  furnace  of  affliction  ;  he  heaps  up  the  fuel,  and  in- 
creases the  heat  of  the  furnace  to  an  intensity  which 
threatens  to  consume  rather  than  purify  them  ;  yet  he  sits 
by,  and  watches  the  process  ;  and  as  the  refiner  is  satisfied 
when  he  sees  his  face  reflected  on  the  surface  of  the  silver, 


THE   DESIGN   OF    AFFLICTION. 


45 


from  a  conviction  that  the  purifying  process  is  completed, 
SO  the  Lord  is  well  pleased  when  he  hath  thus  turned  his 
hand  upon  them,  and  purely  purged  away  their  dross,  and 
taken  away  all  their  tin  ; — 

"  Hg  looks,  and  loves  his  imago  there." 
He  then  withdraws  the  fuel,  takes  out  the  gold,  and  sweetly 
whispers  to  the  soul,  "  The  trial  of  your  faith,  which  is 
much  more  precious  than  that  of  gold  that  perisheth,  though 
it  be  tried  as  with  fire,  shall  be  found  unto  praise,  and 
honor,  and  glory,  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Afflictions  are  intended  for  instruction.    Therefore  we 
are  commanded,  "  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  rod,  and  who 
hath  appointed  it."     It  was  the  paying  of  Luther,  "  The 
school  of  aflliction  is  that  which  giveth  light ;"  and,  indeed, 
it  is  one  where  not  a  few  have  commenced  their  acquaint- 
ance with  God  and  divine  things.     God  spoke  to  them  in 
their   prosperity ;    but   they   would   not   hear.     He  then 
changed  the  scene,  and  brought  them  into  trouble,  and  this 
became  the  mean  of  exciting  their  attention,  and  led  them 
to  say,  "  Speak,  Lord,  for  thy  servant  heareth  :"  "  Lord, 
what  wilt  thou  have  me  to  do  ?"     Affliction,  by  stopping 
our  career  in  wrong,  and  by  giving  us,  as  it  were,  a  pause, 
awakens  the  mind  to  reflection,  and  opens  upon  our  view 
a  scene  to  which,  in  a  course  of  uninterrupted  prosperity, 
we,  perhaps,  should  never  have  raised  our  eyes.     When 
the  mind  of  man  is  engrossed  by  wrong  desires  and  pur- 
suits, his  attention  engaged,  and  his  whole  heart  filled,  to 
speak  to  him  of  the  error  of  his  ways,  or  to  suggest  to  him 
the  impropriety  of  his  conduct,  generally  produces  as  little 
impression  as  the  sun-beam  playing  upon  the   dry  and 
barren  rock.      But  let  his  desires  be  thwarted,  and  his 
pursuits  disappointed ;  let  the  good  on  which  his  heart  is 
fixed  be  withdrawn,  and  the  evil  which  he  dislikes  and 
dreads  be  given  in  its  place,  and  he  will  soon  be  in  a  pro- 
per disposition  for  serious  reflection  and  divine  instruction. 


46 


THE   DESIGN   OF  AFFLICTION. 


In  this  way  many,  like  Manasseh,  have  had  reason  to  bless 
God  for  their  affliction  and  bonds,  as  the  means  of  their 
repentance  and  deliverance  from  ruin. 

Affliction  is  also  a  school  of  divine  institution,  for  train- 
ing up  the  children  of  God  for  their  inheritance  in  heaven. 
Here  some  of  the  most  eminent  saints  have  had  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  their  education,  and  it  is  here  they  have  made 
their  richest  acquisitions  in  the  knowledge  and  experience 
of  divine  things.  Here  they  have  learned  to  estimate  aright 
the  comparative  value  of  the  creature  and  the  Creator — 
the  life  of  sense  and  the  life  of  faith — the  things  of  time 
and  the  things  of  eternity.  When  they  were  first  placed 
there  they  knew  but  little  of  God,  or  of  themselves,  or  of 
the  methods  of  providence  and  grace.  They  thought  that 
as  soon  as  they  had  passed  the  strait  gate  their  difficulties 
would  be  entirely  over  ;  that,  having  obtained  a  good  hope 
through  grace,  and  an  adoption  into  the  family  of  God, 
they  would  be  in  trouble  no  more  as  other  men,  but  walk 
in  a  path  of  uninterrupted  enjoyment.  When,  therefore, 
they  saw  holy  persons  greatly  afflicted,  they  knew  not  how 
to  account  for  it.  They  supposed  that  to  be  afflicted  was 
to  be  miserable — that  inward  peace  and  outward  trouble 
were  incompatible ;  and  to  rejoice  in  tribulation  seemed  a 
paradoxical  saying,  altogether  incomprehensible.  So  fool- 
ish were  they  and  ignorant.  But  when  they  were  brought 
into  affliction  themselves,  they  found  that  it  was  not  so 
formidable  and  destructive  as  they  had  imagined,  but  in 
an  eminent  degree  beneficial  and  consolatory.  They  were 
brought  to  see  so  much  of  the  deceitfulness  and  corruption 
of  their  own  hearts,  of  the  vanity  of  the  world,  of  the  evil 
of  sin,  of  the  insufficiency  of  the  creature  ;  and  so  much  of 
divine  wisdom,  love,  and  faithfulness,  in  their  affliction 
itself;  and  they  felt  also  such  supports  and  comforts  under 
it,  that,  at  the  very  time  their  eyes  were  streaming  with 
tears,  you  might  have  heard  them  sing  — 


THE   DESIGN   OF   AFFLICTION.  47 

"  Dear  Father,  we  consent 
To  discipline  divine, 
And  bless  the  pangs  that  make  our  souls 
Still  more  completely  thine." 

Yes,  it  is  in  affliction  that  many  of  the  saints  of  God  have 
learned  some  of  their  sweetest  lessons,  and  received  some 
of  the  most  endearing  manifestations  of  the  faithfulness  and 
truth,  of  the  power  and  love  of  God.  Often,  when  com- 
pelled to  spend  their  days  in  pain  and  solitude,  Jesus  hath 
appeared  to  them  in  such  glorious  and  gracious  manifesta- 
tions of  his  presence,  and  spoken  to  them  words  of  such 
condescending  compassion  and  love,  and  given  them  such 
glimpses  of  the  glory  to  be  revealed  hereafter,  that  their 
solitude  has  become  a  kind  of  Patmos  to  their  souls,  where 
they  have  been  favored  with  the  fullest  revelation  of  a 
Redeemer's  love.  Hence,  said  David,  "Blessed  is  the 
man  whom  thou  chastenest,  O  Lord,  and  teachest  out  of 
thy  law  !"  Nor  did  he  speak  from  reasoning  or  observa- 
tion merely,  but  from  experience  :  "  It  is  good  for  me  that 
I  have  been  afflicted,  that  I  might  learn  thy  statutes." 
"  We  fear,"  says  Bishop  Hall,  "  our  best  friends ;  for  my 
part  I  have  learned  more  of  God  and  of  myself  from  one 
week's  extremity,  than  the  prosperity  of  a  whole  life  had 
taught  me."  Another  eminent  minister  of  the  truth,  on  his 
recovery  from  a  severe  affliction,  informed  his  congregation, 
"  that,  during  the  ten  weeks  he  had  been  confined  by  sick- 
ness, he  had  learned  more  of  Christ  than  he  had  previously 
done  by  forty  years'  reading  and  study." 


48 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


PROPER  BEHAVIOR  UNDER  AFFLICTION. 

Attend,  my  soul,  with  reverend  awe, 

The  dictates  of  thy  God  ; 
Silent  and  trembling,  hear  the  voice 

Of  his  appointed  rod. 

Now  let  me  search  and  try  my  ways. 

And  humbly  seek  his  face ; 
Conscious  of  guilt,  before  his  throne 

In  dust  my  soul  abase. 

Teach  me,  O  Grod,  what's  yet  unknown. 

And  all  my  sins  forgive ; 
Those  sins  I  would  no  more  repeat, 

But  to  thy  honor  live. 

"  LET  us   SEARCH  AND  TRY  OUR  WAYS,  AND  TURN  AGAIN   TO  THE 
LORD."— Lam.  iii,  33. 

All  the  dispensations  of  God,  whether  agreeable  or 
painful,  are  beneficial  or  injurious,  according  to  the  temper 
of  the  mind  in  which  they  are  received  and  used.  Com- 
forts, if  they  promote  gratitude,  love,  and  obedience,  become 
blessings ;  but  if  they  induce  pride,  vain-glory,  presumption, 
and  forgetfulness  of  God,  they  become  judgments.  Afflic- 
tions, if  they  are  received  with  humility,  penitence,  and 
submission,  are  blessings  ;  but  if  they  excite  murmurings, 
impatience,  and  incorrigibleness,  they  become  judgments, 
and  the  forerunners  of  still  greater  severity.  Our  case  is 
truly  alarming  when  even  medicine  is  administered  in  vain. 
"  It  is  bad,"  says  Bishop  Hopkins,  "  to  lose  the  lives  of 
our  friends,  but  it  is  worse  to  lose  their  death."  "  It  is  a 
serious  thing,"  says  Henry,  "  to  lose  a  calamity."  "  And  we 
ought,"  says  Owen,  "  to  pray  for  a  blessing  upon  our  dayly 
rod,  as  well  as  upon  our  dayly  bread."  How,  then,  ought 
we  to  suffer  ?  In  what  manner  are  afflictions  to  be  im- 
proved, that  we  may  derive  from  them  the  benefit  they  are 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


49 


intended  to  convey  ?  For  they  operate  not  by  miracle  or 
by  charm.  They  are  but  the  means  employed  for  our 
spiritual  advantage.  It  would  be  well  if  men  would  exercise 
on  this  subject  the  same  common  sense  which  they  evince 
in  the  ordinary  concerns  of  life  ;  they  would  thereby  save 
themselves  from  a  thousand  errors.  See  the  husbandman : 
he  knows  that  God  gives  the  increase,  but  he  also  knows 
how  he  gives  it — and  therefore  manures  and  ploughs,  sows 
and  weeds  ;  his  reliance  upon  God  teaches  him  that  favor- 
able seasons  and  influences  are  necessary  to  ripen  the 
grain,  but  he  is  never  guilty  of  such  folly  as  to  go  forth  at 
harvest  and  expect  to  reap  where  he  has  not  sown  ;  never- 
theless, such  is  the  folly  of  many  with  regard  to  their 
spiritual  concerns.  They  complain  that  their  afflictions 
yield  them  no  profit :  can  it  be  otherwise,  so  long  as  they 
continue  to  neglect  the  means  which  are  necessary  to 
render  them  instructive  and  edifying?  Affliction,  to  be 
profitable,  must  induce 

Self-examination .  We  are  all  prone  in  time  of  health 
and  prosperity  to  be  unmindful  of  this  duty.  We  are 
much  abroad  observing  others,  but  little  at  home  examining 
ourselves.  Outward  objects  attract  us  to  that  degree,  that 
we  pass  by  those  within.  But  in  a  season  of  affliction  our 
thoughts  are  called  inward.  Now  God  commands  silence, 
that  he  may  be  heard,  and  removes  intervening  objects  that 
he  may  be  seen.  He  shuts  us  up  in  the  house  of  mourning 
that  we  may  have  opportunity  for  reflection,  and  that  our 
thoughts  may  be  directed  to  the  investigation  of  our  state. 
How  proper,  therefore,  when  we  feel  the  smart  of  the  rod, 
whether  in  our  person,  or  family,  or  circumstances,  to 
examine  ourselves,  and  seek,  by  divine  assistance,  to  know 
wherefore  God  contendeth  with  us,  and  what  he  would 
have  us  to  do.  Seriously  inquire,  then,  afflicted  reader,  are 
you  in  Christ  or  not  ?  Are  you  yet  far  from  God,  or  have 
you  been  brought  nigh  by  the  blood  of  Christ  ?     See  that 

3 


50 


BEHAVIOR  UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


you  be  faithful  and  honest  in  the  inquiry,;  willing  to  know 
the  whole  truth,  however  much  it  may.  mitigate  against 
yourself,  or  tend  to  increase  your  present  distress.     In- 
stead of  listening  to  the  voice  of  flattery,'  hearken  to  the 
charges  of  conscience,  and  especially  to  the  solemn  and 
infallible  statements  of  God's  word.     Seek  not  to  palliate 
your  sins,  or  to  persuade  yourself  that  your  state  is  safe, 
when  it  is  not  so ;  for  by  this  deception  thousands  are  ruined 
for  eternity.     Because  they  are  not  worse  than  others — 
because  their  morality  is  superior  to  that  of  the  openly 
profane — because  they  perform  their  outward  rounds  of 
duties — because  their  charities  abound,  they  flatter  them- 
selves that  they  have  nothing  to  apprehend.     Such  is  the 
persuasion  of  multitudes  who  are  going  down  to  the  pit 
with  a  lie  in  their  right  hand.     The  heart  of  man  is 
deceitful  above  all  things.     Let  your  inquiry  be  conducted 
under   a  full  conviction  of  this  truth.     Tremble  at  the 
thought  of  deception,  where  such  important  and   awful 
consequences   are    involved.      Be    content   to   know   the 
worst  of  your  case,  and  thoroughly  to  understand  the  evil 
and  danger  of  your  condition,  that  you  may  be  excited  to 
seek  after  the  appropriate  remedy.     With  this  view,  ex- 
amine the  marks  of  Christless,  unconverted  persons,  as 
contained  in   God's  word,  and  judge  yourself  by  them. 
Consider,  also,  the  evidences  of  a  state  of  grace  and  of 
salvation,  and  see  how  far  they  belong  to  you.     If,  after 
inquiry,  you  find  that  your  state  is  bad — that  you  have 
loved  the  world  more  than  God — that  you  have  cared  more 
for  the  body  than  the  soul — that  you  have  lived  in  the  indul- 
gence of  sin,  and  the  neglect  of  Christ  and  his  salvation ; 
O !  then,  be  convinced  of  your  inability  to  keep  yourself,  and 
of  your  absolute  need  of  Christ  as  a  Saviour.     Labor  to  be 
deeply  humbled  before  God,  under  a  sense  of  your  sin  and 
folly  ;  and,  in  order  to  this,  enter  upon  a  solemn  review  of 
the  sins  of  your  past  life.     Contemplate  their  nature,  their 


i 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER  AFFLICTION. 


51 


number,  and  their  deserts.  One  sin  would  have  subjected 
you  to  the  sentence  of  God's  law,  and  exposed  you  to  his 
displeasure  ;  but  you  have  committed  sins  more  in  number, 
and  greater  in  aggravation,  than  you  can  conceive  of: 
your  whole  life  has  been  one  continued  sin.  You  have, 
so  far  as  God  is  concerned,  done  nothing  but  sin.  Your 
transgressions  have  sent  up  a  cry  to  heaven  for  vengeance. 
You  are  actually  under  the  curse  of  the  Almighty.  O! 
does  not  such  an  amount  of  sin  call  for  deep  repentance  ? 
Where  shall  you  find  deliverance  from  its  guilt — its  curse 
— but  in  the  Saviour  whom  God  hath  provided  ?  Besides, 
there  is  the  sin  of  your  nature  as  well  as  of  your  conduct. 
The  heart  is  the  polluted  source  from  which  flows  all  the 
evils  that  defile  the  life.  Many  frequently  attempt  to  pal- 
liate their  guilt  by  pleading,  that  though  their  practice  is 
defective,  yet  their  hearts  are  good  ;  but  this  is  a  grievous 
error — for  every  human  heart  is  desperately  wicked. 
Why  do  men  refuse  to  seek,  serve,  and  love  God  ?  Because 
the  carnal  mind  is  enmity  against  him.  Why  do  sinners 
go  on  in  sin  ?  Because  they  love  it.  This  was  not  the 
original  condition  of  man  ;  for  he  was  created  holy,  just, 
and  good ;  but  is  the  result  of  his  apostasy,  and  the  con- 
sequence of  sin.  It  is  of  vast  importance  for  you  to  know 
that  you  are  thus  totally  corrupt  in  your  very  nature,  and 
through  all  your  faculties  ;  for  without  this  knowledge  you 
will  be  taken  up  with  a  mere  outward  reformation,  to  the 
neglect  of  an  entire  inward  renovation.  Nothing  short  of 
this  can  be  eflfective.  Without  this  you  are  undone  for 
ever.  You  need  not  only  the  pardon  of  actual  sin,  you 
must  have  "a  new  heart,"  "  a  right  spirit,"  or  you  cannot 
be  saved.  I  exhort  you,  therefore,  to  humble  yourself 
under  the  mighty  hand  of  God.  I  entreat  you,  by  every- 
thing dear  to  you — by  your  eternal  happiness — to  escape 
for  your  life,  to  fly  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  on  the  hope  set 
befo/e  you  in  the  gospel.     Delay  not  in  making  application 


52 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


BEHAVIOR   UN^DER  AFFLICTION. 


53 


to  Christ.  Apply  to  him  that  he  may  teach  you  the  will 
of  God — reconcile  you  to  his  Father— pardon  your  sins — 
renew  you   by  his   Spirit — and   save  you    from    eternal 

wrath. 

But  are  you  a  subject  of  God's  grace  ?  Can  you  trace  in 
yourself  the  evidence  of  a  change  of  heart  ?  Still  there  may 
be  need  for  close  examination.     Perhaps  there  is  some 
corruption  unmortified,  some  evil  temper  indulged,  some 
duty  neglected,  some  idol  to  which  your  heart  clings  with 
criminal    determination.      Perhaps   your    closet    testifies 
against  you,  that  you  have  not  frequented  it ;  your  Bible, 
that  you  have  not  perused  it ;  your  sanctuary,  that  you  have 
not  profited  by  its  ordinances.     Be  assured  that  when  God 
afflicts,  it  is  not  without  cause ;  and  not  unfrequently  the 
nature  of  the  evil  for  which  God  contends  with  us  may  be 
traced  out  in  the  chastisements  with  which  he  visits  us, 
so  that  we  can  see  the  cause  in  the  effect — the  sin  in  the 
punishment.     Do  you  suffer  in  your  health  ?     Examine, 
then,  whether  you  have  not  been  vain  of  your  strength  and 
beauty.     Are  you  injured  in  your  reputation?     Perhaps 
you  have  made  your  good  name  a  ground  of  self-exaltation, 
or  you  have  been  too  mindful  of  human  opinion.     Is  it  your 
estate  which  is  touched  ?     Consider  whether  you  have  not 
indulged  in  excessive  attachment  to  earthly  things,  and  to 
the  gratification  of  the  flesh.     If,  upon  inquiry,  you  find 
sin  written  upon  your  suffering,  then  speedily  repent  of 
that  sin ;  humble  yourself  in  the  sight  of  God  on  account 
of  it,  and  let  it  be  instantly  put  away.     This  is  the  voice, 
the  injunction  of  the  rod ;  and  here  your  special  duty  is 
humiliation.     But  if  conscience  charges  you  with  no  in- 
dulged evil ;  if,  after  close  and  impartial  scrutiny,  you  see 
not  that  you  have  willfully  departed  from  God,  humbly  bless 
him  for  his  restraining  grace  in  preserving  you  from  the 
great  transgression,   and  while   you   acknowledge,   with 
sincere  contrition,  your  general  failings — your  coldness  in 


devotion,  your  negligence  in  duty,  your  wandering  thoughts, 
your  want  of  vigilance,  and  zeal,  and  fervor — regard  the 
affliction  as  sent  for  wise  and  merciful  ends,  though  the 
design  may  not  yet  be  apparent,  and  submit  to  it,  with 
humility  and  lowliness  of  mind,  until  the  design  be  clearly 
unfolded.  In  whatever  way  it  may  be  intended  to  operate, 
its  object  is  the  promotion  of  your  welfare.  The  Saviour 
was  made  perfect  through  sufferings  ;  and  the  character 
of  every  Christian  is  more  formed  and  improved  by  his 
afflictions  than  by  his  enjoyments.  How  many,  by  the 
enrichment  of  their  faith  and  hope,  have  been  constrained 
to  say,  "  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted !" 
How  much  of  your  happiness  in  heaven  will  arise  from 
your  present  conflicts !  The  very  trial  of  your  faith  is 
precious ;  and  the  crown  of  life  is  promised,  not  to  him 
who  escapes,  but  to  him  that  endures  temptation.  Afflic- 
tions are  heavenly  agents,  and  "  work  out  for  us  a  far  more 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory."  Study,  therefore, 
to  improve  your  affliction  to  this  end.  It  may  be,  however, 
that  the  afflictions  are  for  righteousness'  sake  ;  for  keeping 
a  good  conscience ;  for  adhering  to  the  truth  as  it  is  in 
Jesus,  and  for  attachment  to  his  cause.  In  this  case  it 
loses  its  name,  and  becomes  an  honor — a  filling  up  of  the 
measure  of  a  Saviour's  sufferings  ;  and  you  ought  to  "  glo- 
rify God  in  this  behalf."  Your  affliction  has  not  merely  a 
blessing  in  it,  but  it  is,  in  itself,  a  blessing ;  for  "  blessed 
are  ye  when  men  persecute  you  for  righteousness'  sake." 
But  take  heed  that  it  is  for  righteousness'  sake  that  you 
suffer,  and  not  for  your  own  faults.  We  are  too  apt  to 
think  well  of  ourselves,  and  to  put  that  down  to  the  cause 
of  righteousness,  which  ought  rather  to  be  ascribed  to  our 
own  folly  or  imprudence.  "  If  ye  be  reproached  for  the 
name  of  Christ,  happy  are  ye  ;  for  the  spirit  of  glory  and 
of  God  resteth  upon  you  ;  on  their  part  he  is  evil  spoken 
of,  but  on  your  part  he  is  glorified.     But  let  none  of  you 


54 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


suffer  as  a  murderer,  or  as  a  thief,  or  as  an  evil-doer,  or  as 
a  busybody  in  other  men's  matters." 

Affliction  should  be  improved  hy  fervent  prayer.  There 
is  no  effectual  consolation  under  any  trouble  but  in  God ; 
and,  therefore,  prayer  to  him  is  the  great  resource  of  the 
afflicted.  It  is  in  consequence  recommended  by  infinite 
goodness  and  mercy :  "  Is  any  afflicted  ?  let  him  pray." 
But  it  cannot  be  concealed  that  this  resource  is  not  the 
first  to  which  our  natural  feelings  turn,  or  to  which  cala- 
mity of  itself  will  bring  us.  Some  there  are  who  will 
neither  call  upon  God  in  health  nor  in  sickness ;  neither 
acknowledge  God's  bounty  in  their  prosperity,  nor  implore 
his  aid  in  adversity.  The  state  of  such  is  truly  awful,  and 
furnishes  an  impressive  proof  of  the  natural  aversion  of  the 
heart  to  God.  Many,  however,  who,  in  the  time  of  health 
and  prosperity,  have  neglected  and  forgotten  God,  have 
been  led,  by  the  pressure  of  calamity,  to  cry  to  him  in 
their  distress,  and  often  the  Lord  hath  wrought  great  and 
unexpected  dehverances  in  answer  to  their  prayer.  When 
every  other  refuge  fails,  it  is  easy  to  convince  a  man  that 
there  is  no  refuge  but  God.  It  is  necessary,  however,  to 
warn  such  against  deception,  lest  they  construe  the  cry 
which  is  wrung  from  them  by  the  excess  of  grief  into  an 
evidence  of  spiritual  concern,  or  of  sincere  and  faithful 
prayer  ;  or  the  dehverances  which  they  receive  from  God, 
as  proofs  that  he  accepts  of  their  persons  or  their  supplica- 
tions. This  is  often  a  fatal  delusion.  God  does,  indeed, 
at  times  extend  delivering  mercy  to  those  who  in  the  time 
of  trouble  first  think  of  seeking  him ;  and  it  ought  to  be 
regarded  as  an  evidence  of  his  patience  and  long-suffering, 
giving  them  further  space  for  repentance,  "  not  willing  that 
any  should  perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  the  know- 
ledge of  the  truth  and  live."  But,  before  any  one  adopts 
a  persuasion  that  these  providential  mercies  are  proofs  of 
special  favor,  he  should  take  time  to  examine  whether  the 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


55 


religious  impressions  wrought  upon  his  heart,  in  time  of 
trouble,  be  sincere  and  abiding,  and  discover  themselves 
by  corresponding  and  permanent  effects  in  his  life.     Affliic- 
tion  and  penitence  by  no  means  necessarily  accompany 
each  other,  and  even  when  they  seem  to  meet,  they  too 
often  depart  together.     The  man's  goodness  proves  as  "  a 
morning  cloud,  and  as  the  early  dew  it  goeth  away."    He 
becomes  more  hardened  and  indifferent  than  ever,  and  "  the 
last  state  of  that  man  is  worse  than  the  first."     The  since- 
rity and  spirituality  of  prayer  appear  in  our  being  more 
concerned   about   the    evils   which  have  occasioned  the 
affliction,   than  about  the  affliction   itself:    in  our  being 
more   solicitous  to  have  our  suffering  sanctified,  than  to 
have  it  removed.     Afflicted  reader,  the  Almighty  graciously 
allows  you  to  bring  your  affliction  before  him,  and  to  plead 
the  promise  of  deliverance ;  but  remember,  in  order  that 
your  prayers  may  be  heard  with  acceptance,  it  is  indis- 
pensable that  you  seek  to  have  the  design  accomplished 
for  which  it  was  sent.     Is  that  design  the  removal  of  sin 
— the  conversion  of  your  soul  ?     To  this,  then,  principally 
let  your  prayer  be  directed.     Pray  for  the  divine  blessing 
on  your  affliction ;  pray  for  divine  light,  that  you  may  see 
the  evil  of  sin,  and  especially  the  evil  of  your  own  heart : 
pray  that  sin  may  be  made  hateful  to  you,  and  that  you 
may  have  strength  to  renounce  and  to  resist  it ;  prostrate 
yourself  at  the  foot  of  the  mercy-seat,  confess  your  sins, 
with  deep  humiliation,  and  pray  for  pardon  as  one  that 
feels  his  awful  desert.     "  Seek  the  Lord  while  he  may  be 
found  ;  call  upon  him  while  he  is  near."     The  Lord  will 
not  despise  your  prayer.     Pray  in   faith,  believing  that 
"  God  is,  and  that  he  is  a  rewarder  of  them  that  diligently 
seek  him."     Let  the  atonement  and  intercession  of  the 
Saviour  be  all  your  plea.     Confess  yourself  ruined  and 
undone  without  Christ,  and  agonize   until   you   prevail. 
Pray  for  the  Holy  Spirit ;  without  his  assistance  you  can 


(  ,• 


50 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


BEHAVIOR  UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


57 


neither  pray,  nor  repent — neither  beheve,  nor  submit.  Do 
not  satisfy  yourself  with  the  prayers  of  others,  either  minis- 
ters or  friends,  for  what  can  they  avail  you  if  you  pray  not 
for  yourself?  Lift  up  your  soul  to  God;  "pour  out  your 
heart  before  him."  True  religion  is  a  personal  thing,  and 
prayer  especially  is  a  personal  duty.  Without  this  you 
cannot  be  saved.  Remember  that  the  primary  object  of 
prayer,  in  your  case,  is  the  pardon  of  sin ;  this  alone  can 
estabhsh  peace  between  God  and  you ;  and  this  alone  can 
give  peace  to  your  troubled  conscience.  Continue,  there- 
fore, instant  in  prayer.  Plead  with  the  Most  High  as  Jacob 
with  the  Angel  of  the  covenant,  when  he  exclaimed,  as  he 
held  fast  his  eagerness,  and  his  appointed  access  to  God, 
"  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me."  Pray  as 
did  the  believing  Syro-Phoenician,  who  clung,  as  it  were, 
to  the  robe  of  Jesus,  crying,  "  Lord,  help  me,"  and  turned 
even  his  appearance  of  aversion  and  denial  into  an  argu- 
ment for  mercy :  "  It  is  not  meet,"  said  he,  "  to  take  the 
children's  bread  and  to  cast  it  to  dogs."  "  Truth,  Lord," 
replied  the  earnest  petitioner,  "-yet  the  dogs  eat  the  crumbs 
which  fall  from  their  master's  table."  Imitate  the  impor- 
tunity of  Bartimeus,  amid  the  numberless  causes  of  hinder- 
ance  and  discouragement  by  which  you  are  surrounded. 
The  disciples  would  have  restrained  the  eagerness  of  his 
entreaty,  "  but  he  cried  the  more  a  great  deal.  Thou  son 
of  David,  have  mercy  on  me."     Agonize  in  prayer 

Until  God,  with  cloudless  demonstration  to  your  soul, 
Reveal  his  promised  grace. 

But  is  the  reader  a  subject  of  God's  converting  grace  ? 
Still,  if  there  be  a  consciousness  of  guilt  as  the  procuring 
cause  of  your  suffering,  in  what  manner  can  you  expect 
relief  otherwise  than  by  becoming  to  God  even  as  at  the 
first,  with  penitence,  confession  of  sin,  and  an  earnest 
prayer  for  a  renewed  manifestation  of  his  forgiving  love  ? 


• 


This  is  your  first,  your  most  urgent  duty.  Let  not  this  be 
delayed.  Put  away  the  evil,  if  not  yet  removed,  and 
earnestly  beseech  your  heavenly  Father  to  heal  your  back- 
slidings,  and  again  to  love  you  freely.  If,  however,  you 
are  free  from  the  charge  of  willful  transgression,  still  prayer 
is  the  means  by  which  you  are  to  seek  the  mercies  appro- 
priate to  your  condition.  By  this  you  are  sure  to  obtain 
either  deliverance  from  your  affliction,  or  support  and  pre- 
servation in  it ;  for  the  mercy  of  God  is  often  much  more 
displayed  by  giving  us  support  and  consolation  under  our 
trials  than  it  could  be  by  their  removal ;  and,  as  he  is  a 
God  of  judgment,  and  always  exercises  mercy  wisely,  he 
will  be  sure  to  answer  our  prayers  in  that  way  which  is 
most  beneficial  tons,  as  well  as  most  promotive  of  his  own 
glory.  It  may  be,  therefore,  that  prayer  may  neither  pro- 
cure for  you  the  removal,  nor  even  the  mitigation,  of  your 
distress  ;  this  may  not  accomplish  the  purpose  which  your 
heavenly  Father  has  in  view,  nor  ought  you  to  ask  it  but 
with  humble  deference  to  his  will :  but  this  it  will  effect- 
it  will  secure  to  you  the  gracious  presence  and  consolation 
of  God  in  your  trouble  ;  he  will  cause  his  grace  to  be  suf- 
ficient for  you ;  he  will  perfect  strength  in  your  weakness  ; 
he  will  favor  you  with  such  revelations  of  his  goodness, 
such  radiations  of  his  love  and  favor,  that  where  afflictions 
abound,  consolations  shall  much  more  abound.  Thus  he 
will  know  your  soul  in  adversity,  and  give  accomplishment 
to  his  promise,  "  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters, 
I  will  be  with  thee  ;  and  through  the  rivers,  they  shall  not 
overflow  thee :  when  thou  walkest  through  the  fire,  thou 
Shalt  not  be  burned ;  neither  shall  the  flames  kindle  upon 
thee.  For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
thy  Saviour."  God  invites  his  people  to  call  upon  him  in 
their  trouble,  and  thus  he  answers ;— he  answers  by  his 
promises,  speaking  peace  to  the  soul;  he  answers  by  his 
Spirit,  strengthenin^them  in  their  inner  man,  and  inspiring 

3* 


58 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER  AFFLICTION. 


1 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


59 


them  with  joy  and  peace  in  believing  ;  he  answers  by  his 
providence,  bringing  in  seasonable  relief,  or  working  out 
deliverance  for  them.  And  if  God  proportions  our  strength 
to  the  degree  and  continuance  of  our  trouble,  if  he  keep  us 
from  offending  him  by  impatience  and  discontent,  if  he 
recompense  outward  losses  and  afflictions  with  special 
manifestations  of  his  presence  and  favor,  and  makes  death 
at  last  a  complete  discharge  from  all  our  troubles,  then  is 
his  promise  most  faithfully  fulfilled. 

Affliction  should  be  attended  by  submission :   not  the 
constrained  submission  of  necessity— not  a  stoical  insen- 
sibility,  or  an  affected   superiority  to  pain  and  calamity, 
which  has   been  so  often   and   so  justly  extolled  as  the 
highest  attainment  of  virtue— but  cheerful  resignation  to 
the  will  of  God.     With  the  most  rigid  of  the  ancient  phi- 
losophers  insensibility  was  deemed  the  perfection  of  virtue 
and  wisdom.     "  Gnaw  as  thou  wilt,"  said  one  of  these, 
apostrophizing  an  excruciating  distemper  with  which  he 
was  afflicted,  "  thou  shalt  never  compel  me  to  confess  that 
pain  is  an  evil."     He  spoke  the  language  of  obstinacy  and 
system,  a  language  which  his  feelings  belied.     The  groans 
that  interrupted  his  words,  proved  the  futility  of  a  system 
at  variance  with  reason,  and  showed,  that  to  support  hu- 
manity under  trying  circumstances,  to  produce  patience 
without  obstinacy,  and  resignation  without  despondency, 
requires  other  motives  than  those  which  philosophy  fur- 
nished.    The    gospel    addresses    us   as  men— as  beings 
susceptible,  both  in  mind  and  body,  of  enjoyment  and  of 
pain.    It  allows  the  tear  to  flow  when  the  heart  is  wounded ; 
indeed,  if  our  afflictions  were  not  felt,  they  would  not  be 
afflictions.     It  is  well  observed  by  a  heathen  writer,  "  that 
the  more  sensible  perception  a  man  hath  of  the  evils  he 
suffers,  when  yet  he  is  contented  to  suffer  for  the  sake  of 
virtue,  so  much  the  more  properly  he  may  be  said  to  be 
courageous."     The  submission  which  is  required  of  us  is 


that  temper  of  mind  which  disposes  us  to  put  a  check  upon 
everything  that  is  rebellious  in  our  thoughts,  words,  and 
carriage  ;  and  which  secures  such  a  degree  of  composure 
and  inward  tranquillity,  as  enables  us  to  think  coolly  and 
deliberately  on  the  ways  of  Providence ;  to  examine  the 
cause  of  our  affliction,  and  the  purpose  it  may  be  intended 
to  accomplish  ;  to  advert  to  all  the  circumstances  of  alle- 
viation which  may  be  connected  with  it ;  to  converse  freely 
with  our  friends  respecting  the  trial,  and  calmly  to  acqui- 
esce in  a  condition,  of  the  disadvantages  of  which  we  may 
be  fully  sensible.  O,  happy  man!  who  hath  gained  such 
an  ascendency  over  the  passions  of  his  nature,  that  while 
he  laments  the  loss  of  one  comfort,  he  can  yet  taste  the 
sweetness  of  those  that  remain  ;  who,  amidst  the  weakness 
of  his  nature  has  sufficient  firmness  to  break  through  every 
difficulty,  and  betake  himself  to  the  appropriate  duties  of 
his  condition ;  who,  though  God  seems  as  if  he  were  about 
to  destroy  him,  can  yet  converse  with  him,  and  read,  knd 
think,  and  pray,  and  find  a  relish  for  these  sacred  exercises. 
Labor,  therefore,  to  display  this  state  of  mind,  whatever 
may  be  the  character  of  your  condition,  or  the  peculiarity 
of  your  affliction.  Impatience  turns  the  rod  into  a  scor- 
pion, and  transfixes  more  deeply  the  barbed  arrows  of 
sorrow.  Till  you  wipe  from  your  eyes  the  suffusion  of 
tears,  you  cannot  see  what  God  is  doing  ;  and  while  the 
noisy  passions  are  clamorous,  his  addresses  cannot  be 
heard.  You  are  not  to  excuse  improper  dispositions  in 
affliction,  by  saying,  "  It  was  so  trying,  who  could  help 
it  ?"  This  would  be  to  justify  rebellion  by  the  very  means 
which  God  employs  in  order  to  induce  submission.  Be 
assured  that  the  fault  is  not  in  the  condition,  but  in  the 
temper.  All  things  are  to  us  what  we  make  them.  It  is 
not  so  much  the  state  of  things  without  us,  as  the  dispo- 
sition which  predominates  within,  that  constitutes  our  real 
condition,  and  gives  the  tone  to  our  emotions.     The  very 


60 


BEHAVIOR  UNDER  AFFLICTION. 


same  circumstances,  therefore,  which  in  one  state  of  mind 
quite  overwhelm  us,  in  another,  and  a  better  one,  are  re- 
duced to  their  proper  insignificance.     The  experience  of 
the  Psalmist,  as  delineated  in  the  130th  Psalm,  fumi^es 
a  striking  illustration.     In  the  commencement  he  describes 
his  state  as  one  of  deep  calamity— one  from  which  he  saw 
no  outlet — one  with  which  his  soul  struggled  even  to  agony, 
but  yet  seemed  to  be  sinking  lower  and  lower  into  the 
black  and  fathomless  gulf  of  despair.     At  length  he  looked 
out  of  himself  for  help  and  deliverance.     He  raised  his 
eyes  from  the  calamities  around  him  to  the  compassion  of 
God  above  him.     By  faith  his  cries  were  prolonged,  and 
raised  into  persevering  application,  and  from  faith  there 
spnmg  the  calm  of  submission  and  of  hope.     He  believed 
in  the  mercy  of  God,  he  trusted  in  his  gracious  promise, 
therefore  he  waited  quietly  in  patient  expectation  of  the 
help  of  God.     Yet  he  had  no  more  distinct  reasons  for 
hope  than  he  possessed  before.     There  were  no  further 
assurances  of  help  revealed  ;  no  new  facts  had  occurred ; 
no  interposition  had  been  vouchsafed  ;  all  things  were  just 
the  same ;  and  yet,  how  inexpressibly  difierent  was   his 
state  of  mind  !  how  widely  opposite  the  spirit  with  which 
he  looked  out  upon  these  facts !  and,  therefore,  he  beheld 
a  corresponding  difference  in  the  aspect  of  the  facts  them- 
selves.    Everything  was  viewed  at  first  in  itself  alone, 
and  he  sunk  in  dismay ;  everything  at  last  was  viewed  in 
God,  and  he  became  submissive  and  hopeful.     Not  that 
things  had   altered ;   it  was  his  mind  that  had  changed. 
The  idea  of  God  had  been  gradually  rising  in  his  mind.  ' 
God's  compassion  was  remembered,  God's  character  and 
promises  were  meditated  upon,  until  his  mind  rose  from 
one  degree  of  buoyance  to  another,  and  at  last  the  mists 
of  doubt  and  despondency  were  left  beneath  him,  and  he 
sprung  into  the  pure  and  unclouded  region  of  steadfast 
faith  and  unreserved  submission,  where  he  even  sung  for 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER  AFFICTION. 


61 


joy.  Be  it  your  concern  to  imitate  his  example.  "  Fret 
not  thyself  in  any  wise  to  do  evil."  Let  not  sorrow  drive 
you  into  sin,  but  "  rest  in  the  Lord,  and  wait  patiently  for 
him."  "  Delight  thyself  in  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  give  thee 
the  desires  of  thine  heart."  "  Commit  thy  way  unto  the 
Lord,  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass."  "  For  the  Lord  is 
good  to  them  that  wait  for  him,  to  the  soul  that  seeketh 
him." 

In  affliction  we  should  cherish  a  thankful  spirit.  There 
is  no  state  that  does  not  require  gratitude.  However 
afflictive  our  circumstances  may  be,  there  is  always  much 
more  to  call  for  gratitude  than  for  complaint.  The  praise 
of  God  is  never  out  of  season.  It  is,  therefore,  his  will 
that  in  everything  we  should  give  thanks ;  in  things  adverse, 
as  well  as  prosperous  ;  dark,  as  well  as  light ;  grievous,  as 
well  as  joyous.  This,  however,  is  a  duty  too  commonly 
neglected.  We  are  naturally  selfish,  and  our  selfishness 
appears  in  our  very  devotions.  We  are  backward  to  every 
duty  of  religion  ;  we  are  backward  to  pray,  but  still  more 
to  praise.  Pressed  by  our  difficulties,  and  urged  by  our 
wants,  we  are  constrained  to  pray  ;  but  we  often  pray  in 
our  distress  as  if  our  case  was  one  of  unqualified  calamity, 
which  admitted  of  no  feeling  but  that  of  disquietude,  and  of 
no  language  but  that  of  complaint ;  therefore  it  is  that  we 
are  so  often  overwhelmed  with  sorrow :  whereas,  connected 
with  our  afflictions  there  are  innumerable  circumstances, 
all  consoling  in  their  tendency,  and  which  call  for  grate- 
ful and  fervent  acknowledgment ;  nay,  those  things  which 
seem  the  most  unfriendly  to  our  wishes  and  welfare,  did 
we  know  all,  would  probably  draw  forth  our  highest  praises. 
We  must  always  distinguish  between  what  is  pleasing  and 
what  is  profitable.  Though  correction  be  not  agreeable  to 
the  child,  yet  it  is  so  good  for  him,  that  "  he  that  spareth 
his  rod  hateth  his  son."  Medicine  is  unpalatable,  but  it  is 
good  for  the  patient ;  and  renewed  health  more  than  recon- 


62 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


BEHAVIOR   UNDER   AFFLICTION. 


63 


ciles  him  to  the  infliction  and  the  expense.     The  vine- 
dresser  does  the  tree  good,  not  by  suffering  the  wanton 
shoots  to  grow  on,  draining  the  sap,  but  by  pruning  it,  that 
It  may  bring  forth  more  fruit.     In  this  way  our  greatest 
crosses  are  often  productive  of  our  choicest  blessings,  and 
justly  claim  our  highest  praises.     Yes,  if  temporal  suffer- 
mg  be  an  evidence  of  our  heavenly  Father's  kindness  and 
care— if,  through  the  operation  of  his  word  and  Spirit,  it 
be  productive  of  spiritual  and  eternal  benefits— if  it  softens 
in  one  sense,  and  invigorates  in  another— if  it  humbles 
and  reclaims— if  it  purifies  and  refines— if  it  awakens  con- 
science when  asleep— if  it  detaches  from  the  world— if  it 
raises  the  soul  to  heaven,  and  reconciles  us  to  the  last 
event,  does  it  not  demand  our  grateful  acknowledgment  ^ 
The  restraint  which  God  places  upon  our  desires   and 
pursuits  is  not  less  indicative  of  mercy.     The  child  cries 
when  the  father  places  beyond  his  reach  the  knife  he  was 
going  to  grasp,  unconscious  of  the  dangerous  nature  of  the 
weapon  ;  but  is  not  the  father's   love  as  conspicuous  in 
this,  as  in  conferring  an  object  gratifying  to  its  wishes  ^ 
And  if  God  crosses  our  purposes  to  save  our  souls— if  he 
negatives  our  wishes  to  promote  our  welfare,  then  does  he 
not  deserve  our  praise  ?     Come,  then,  afflicted  reader,  not 
only  seek  to  justify  the  ways  of  God,  in  all  his  dealings 
with  you,  but  also  reckon  up  your  mercies.     Search  out 
everything  in  your  condition,  and  everything  in  the  divine 
dispensations— past,  present,  and  future— which  prefers  a 
claim  to  your  gratitude.     Examine  your  condition  ;  bring 
forth  to  view  all  its  alleviations,  and  supports,  and  comforts. 
You  are  afflicted,  but  it  is  not  in  hell ;  you  have  many 
crosses,  but  you  have  also  many  consolations ;  you  have 
been  much  tried,  but  you  have  hitherto  been  supported ; 
your  cup  is  bitter,  but  what  would  it  have  been  if  there  had 
not  been  in  it  a  large  mixture  of  mercy  ?     Think  of  your 
ains  and  of  your  deserts  ;  of  what  you  have  done  against 


God,  and  of  what  he  has  done  for  you,  and  is  still  willing  to 
do  for  you.  Think  of  his  redeeming  love — of  his  provi- 
dential care — of  his  sparing  mercy — of  his  calls  and  striv- 
ings— of  his  invitations  and  promises.  Has  he  ever  left 
vou  ?  Has  he  ever  turned  away  your  prayer  from  him, 
or  his  mercy  from  you  ?  And  is  it  for  you  to  be  wrapped 
up  in  selfishness,  and  to  indulge  in  complaint  1  How  un- 
worthy of  a  creature  ;  but  how  much  more  unworthy  of  a 
Christian !  The  pious  Baxter,  at  a  time  when  suffering 
from  an  agonizing  disease,  was  visited  by  a  friend,  and  on 
being  asked  how  he  was,  replied,  "  I  am  tormented,  but, 
blessed  be  God,  it  is  not  in  the  fire  of  hell." 

In  affliction  we  should  labor  to  detach  our  affections  from 
created  objects,  and  seek  our  happiness  in  God  alone.  Pros- 
perity is  not  the  situation  in  which  we  are  the  most  likely 
to  live  above  the  world.  The  longer  we  live  in  prosperity, 
the  more  dependent  we  usually  are  on  the  creature,  and 
the  less  mindful  of  the  Creator.  Present  things  easily 
and  naturally  gain  possession  of  our  hearts :  as  riches  in- 
crease we  set  our  affections  upon  them  ;  pleasures  enlarge 
the  desire  of  gratification,  and  one  indulgence  requires 
another.  But  there  can  be  no  enjoyment  of  God,  no  pre- 
paration for  heaven,  in  such  a  state  of  mind  as  this.  It  is 
suited  only  to  present  things  ;  and  its  possessor  to  be  hap- 
py, should  live  here  for  ever.  This  he  cannot  do,  and 
therefore  a  higher  and  nobler  temper  must  be  cherished. 
It  is  for  the  purpose  of  inducing  this,  that  God  sends  heavy 
crosses,  and  heart-rending  disappointments.  Affliction, 
with  a  faithful  but  harsh  voice,  rouses  us  from  the  pleasing 
delusion.  It  warns  us  to  arise  and  depart  from  these  in- 
ferior delights,  because  here  is  not  our  rest ;  it  teaches 
us  that  the  honor  which  cometh  of  men  is  fading  as  the 
flower  that  perisheth ;  it  shows  how  inefficacious  are  all 
earthly  blessings  in  imparting  real  and  abiding  felicity  ; 
and,  as  the  sweeping  tempest  and  the  beating  surge  teach 


i 


64 


BEHAVIOR  UNDER   AFFLICTIOK. 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


65 


the  mariner  to  prize  the  haven  where  undisturbed  repose 
awaits  his  arrival ;  so,  in  like  manner,  disappointments, 
vexations,  and  crosses,  teach  us  that  God  alone  is  the 
proper  object  of  confidence,  and  the  true  source  of  enjoy- 
ment. Creatures  are  broken  reeds ;  but  he  is  the  rock 
of  ages.  They  are  broken  cisterns  ;  he  is  the  fountain  of 
living  waters.  Yes,  here  is  something  firm  and  certain. 
God  will  not  deceive  us,  and  cannot  disappoint  us.  His 
power  is  almighty ;  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever ;  his 
word  is  faithfulness  and  truth  :  therefore  David  says,  "  My 
soul,  wait  thou  only  upon  God ;  for  my  expectation  is  from 
him." 

Reader,  the  design  of  your  affliction  is  to  teach  you  to 
fix  your  hope  on  God  ;  to  remind  you  that 

"  He  builds  too  low 
Who  builds  beneath  the  skies ;" 

to  wean  you  from  created  good,  and  to  instnict  you  how  to 
enjoy  an  infinite,  an  eternal  portion.  Your  earthly  props 
are  overthrown,  that  you  may  build  on  a  firmer  foundation  ; 
your  temporal  enjoyments  are  imbitetred,  that  you  may  long 
for  those  happy  mansions  where  all  tears  shall  be  wiped 
away  from  your  eyes.     As  Young  sings, — 

"  Our  hearts  are  fasten'd  to  this  world 
With  strong  and  various  ties ; 
But  every  trouble  cuts  a  string, 
And  urges  us  to  rise." 

The  objects  of  your  confidence  and  hope  are  removed,  that 
you  may  feel  there  is  nothing  on  which  you  can  firmly  place 
your  hope  but  the  promises  of  the  gospel,  an  interest  in 
Christ,  the  enjoyment  of  God,  and  the  assurance  of  life 
eternal.  Now,  therefore,  if  ever,  these  things  will  be 
welcome  to  you.  "  I  see  God  will  have  all  my  heart,  and 
he  shall  have  it,"  was  the  noble  reflection  made  by  a  lady 


when  informed  that  her  two  children,  whom  she  tenderly 
loved,  were  drowned.  This  is  what  God  requires  from 
you — your  whole  heart.  Turn,  therefore,  to  him  as  the 
proper  portion  of  your  soul ;  cleave  to  him  above  all ; 
depend  upon  him  as  your  chief  good ;  content  yourself 
with  him  as  all-suflicient  to  give  to  the  soul  suitable  and 
full  satisfaction  ;  make  him  your  trust,  your  love,  your  joy, 
your  hope,  your  delight.  Here  you  cannot  be  too  earnest, 
too  ambitious,  too  covetous,  too  confident:  "Open  thy 
mouth  wide,"  says  the  Lord,  "  and  I  will  fill  it."  "  Ask 
and  receive,  that  your  joy  may  be  full." 

Affliction  must  be  attended  by  a  patient  waiting  for  God's 
time  and  method  of  deliverance.  You  may  desire  deliver- 
ance ;  religion  does  not  forbid  that ;  but  then  your  desires 
must  not  be  rash,  insisting,  or  unconditional,  but  always 
closed  with, "  Nevertheless,  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt." 
You  may  employ  means  of  deliverance,  for  God  works  by 
means,  and  frequently  employs  us  as  agents  in  removing 
the  burdens  under  which  we  suffer ;  but  those  means  are 
to  be  lawful  ones.  Affliction  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  a 
prison-house ;  but,  in  order  to  obtain  deliverance,  we  are  not 
violently  to  throw  down  our  prison  walls,  but  rather  to  say, 
*'  He  who  confined  me  shall  bring  me  forth  :  I  will  stand 
still,  and  see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord."  Many  ways  of 
deliverance  may  present  themselves  ;  but  we  are  to  choose 
only  God's  way,  willing  rather  to  endure  calamity  than 
commit  sin.  If  we  cannot  free  ourselves  from  an  entang- 
ling and  perplexing  providence  but  by  breaking  a  command, 
we  ought  to  be  content  to  suflfer.  It  is  a  sad  exchange  we 
make,  when,  by  adopting  some  unlawful  method  of  deliver- 
ance, we  wrest  our  cause  out  of  the  hands  of  God,  in  order 
to  place  it  in  the  hands  of  Satan.  See  this  in  the  case  of 
Saul.  He  was  hard  pressed  by  the  enemies  of  Israel : 
his  foes  were  menacing  an  assault ;  his  own  troops,  dispi- 
rited and  cowardly,  were  deserting  him  in  great  numbers 


66 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION 


His   situation  became  every  hour  more  alarming,    there 
appeared  but  one  method  of  escape  ;  that  was.  to   give 
instant  battle  to  the  enemy  ;  but  in  doing  so  he  must  diso- 
bey the  command  of  God.     He  had  been  directed  to  wait 
seven  days  until  Samuel  should  arrive,  to  preside  in  the 
offices  of  religion.     What  course  did  the  monarch  pursue  ? 
Rash  and  impatient,  he  took  his  cause  out  of  the  hands  of 
God ;  he  ventured  to  offer  sacrifice  without  the  presence 
of  the  prophet ;  he  presumed  to  do  evil  that  good  might 
come,  and  in  consequence  he  incurred  the  divine  displea- 
sure, and  the  forfeiture  of  the  crown  he  was  endeavoring 
to  secure.     David  fell  into  the  same  error :  he  said,  "  I 
shall  now  perish  one  day  by  the  hand  of  Saul :  there  is 
nothing  better  than  that  I  should  speedily  escape  into  the 
land  of  the  Philistines."     The  oracle,  if  he  had  consulted 
it,  would  not  have  told  him  so.     In  truth,  it  was  the  worst 
measure  he  could  have  devised.     It  tended  to  alienate  the 
affections  of  his  countr>'men  ;  to  justify  the  reproaches  of 
his  adversaries  ;  to  deprive  himself  of  the  means  of  grace  ; 
to  put  himself  out  of  the  divine  protection,  and  to  lay  him- 
self under  obligations  to  a  benefactor  whom  he  could  not 
oblige  without  betraying  the  cause  of  God  and  the  interests 
of  Israel.     Accordingly,  he  was  soon  drawn  into  a  scanda- 
lous equivocation  with  Achish.     Then  he  was  ordered  to 
go  and  fight  against  his  own  people.     And  when  he  was 
released  from  this  embarrassment,  and  went  back,  he  found 
that,  in  his  absence,  his  residence  and  property  had  been 
destroyed,  and  his  family  carried  away  captives.     In  the 
holy  martyrs,  spoken  of  in  the  eleventh  chapter  of  Hebrews, 
we  have  an  example  of  an  opposite  kind.     They  generously 
scorned  to  accept  of  deliverance,  when  it  was  offered  to 
them  upon  unworthy  and  unlawful  terms.     They  were  not 
so  reckless  of  life  as  to  have  cast  it  away,  could  they  have 
preserved  both  it  and  their  religion  also.     But  when  the 
condition  of  their  temporal  salvation  was  the  relinquish- 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


67 


ment  of  their  hope  in  God ;  when  they  could  no  longer 
live  here  unless  they  consented  to  die  eternally,  they  felt 
no  hesitation  in  determining  which  course  they  ought  to 
pursue  :    they  cheerfully  welcomed  the  scaffold  and  the 
stake,  not  counting  their  lives  dear  unto  themselves  so  that 
they  might  finish  their  course  with  joy.     Whatever,  there- 
fore, be  your  affliction,  abstain  from  all  unworthy  and  unlaw- 
ful methods  for  its  removal ;  choose  rather  to  abide  quietly 
under  its  pressure  than,  by  any  unwarrantable  means,  to 
obtain  relief;  contentedly  wear  the  yoke  rather  than  vio- 
lently break  it ;  willingly  continue  poor  rather  than  enrich 
yourself  by  deception,  falsehood,  and  injustice ;  contentedly 
endure  contempt  and  reproach,  rather  than  attempt,  by  sin- 
ful compliances,  to  regain  the  favor  and  esteem  of  men ; 
patiently  bear  any  inconveniences  or  distress  rather  than 
set  your  face  toward  Egypt,  or  have  recourse  to  any  succor 
which  God  disallows.     Wait  his  time,  with  prayer  and 
patience ;  and  be  assured  that  you  will  find  his  mercy,  in 
moderating  your  affliction  ;  his  power,  in  supporting  you 
under  it ;  his  goodness,  in  his  time  (which  is  always  the 
best)  to  deliver  you  from  it ;  and  his  bounty,  in  rendering 
vour  suffering  productive  of  a  rich  harvest  of  spiritual  con- 
solation and  advantage.     "  Let  them  that  suffer  according 
to  the  will  of  God,  commit  the  keeping  of  their  souls  to 
him,  in  well  doing,  as  unto  a  faithful  Creator." 

In  affliction  we  must  guard  against  an  indignant  and 
resentful  conduct  toward  the  instruments  of  our  suffering. 
We  are  too  apt  to  look  exclusively  at  secondary  causes, 
and  to  overlook  the  great  First  Cause,  who  appoints  and 
arranges  all  things  according  to  the  counsel  of  his  own 
will.  We  fasten  our  eyes  on  the  instruments  employed  to 
chasten  us,  and  forget  the  hand  which  wields  that  instru- 
mentality only  for  the  promotion  of  our  welfare  :  the  con- 
sequence is,  that  when  we  experience  reproach,  or  injury, 
or  oppression,  we  commonly  think,  because  we  have  right 


68 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


on  our  side,  that  we  are  justified  in  any  measure  of  vio- 
lence and  resistance  toward  those  who  have  injured  us  ; 
but  we  should  remember  that  this  is  the  proper  occasion 
for  the  display  of  Christian  charity.     "  For  if,  when  we 
are  buffeted  for  our  faults,  we  take  it  patiently,  what  thank 
have  we  ?"  that  is  the  virtue  of  the  suffering  malefactor ; 
but  if,  when  our  good  is  evil  spoken  of;  our  principles 
maligned,  our  character  assailed  by  misrepresentation,  and 
our  property  injured— if  then  we  forbear   all  hasty  and 
passionate  vindication,  and  refrain  from  every  species  of 
retaliation,  this    is    thankworthy — this   is    charity.     The 
operation  of  Christian  principle  stills  the  tumult  of  indig- 
nant feeling,  forbids  all  execrations  on  the  head  of  him 
who  would  even  destroy  us,  and  restrains  the  hands  from 
inflicting  injury.     "  Fret  not  thyself,"  it  argues,  "  because 
of  evil  doers,  for  they  shall  soon  be  cut  off.     Commit  thy 
cause  unto  him  that  judgeth  righteously.     Trust  also  in 
him,  and  he  shall  bring  it  to  pass.     A  father  of  the  father- 
less, and  a  judge  of  the  widow,  is  God  in  his  holy  habita- 
tion."    Nor  does  its  operation  stop  here;    it  dictates  a 
beneficent   course   of   conduct   toward   our    adversaries  : 
"  love  your  enemies,  bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to 
them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  that  despitefully  use 
you,  and  persecute  you."     Besides,  when  we  attempt  to 
avenge  ourselves  upon  the  instrument,  we  do  in  effect 
thereby  express  our  resentment  of  God's  dealings  with  us ; 
and  thus  involve  ourselves  in   the  guilt  of  impiety  and 
rebellion.     The  consideration  of  the  hand  from  which  the 
aflliction  comes  should  suppress  all  resentment  toward  the 
agent.     When  David  fled  from  his  son  Absalom,  and  the 
anguish  of  his  bleeding  heart  was  cruelly  aggravated  by 
the  insults  of  Shimei,  what  reconciled  the  sufferer  to  this 
bitter  addition   to   his  wo  ?     "  Let  him  curse,"  said  the 
afllicted  monarch,  "  because  the  Lord  hath  said  unto  him, 
Curse  David.     Let  him  alone,  and  let  him  curse;  for  the 


BEHAVIOR    UNDER    AFFLICTION. 


69 


Lord  hath  bidden  him."  He  saw  God's  hand  in  the  trial, 
and  he  was  satisfied :  and  how  consolatory  the  hope  which 
this  view  suggested  to  him !  "  It  may  be  that  the  Lord  will 
look  upon  mine  affliction,  and  that  the  Lord  will  requite 
me  good  for  his  cursing  this  day."  We  are  never  more 
likely  to  have  our  mourning  turned  into  joy,  than  when  we 
take  our  afflictions,  through  whatever  channel  they  may 
come,  patiently,  as  from  God's  hands,  and  are  satisfied 
with  whatever  is  done,  because  he  does  it. 


70 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 

O  child  of  sorrow  !  be  it  thine  to  know 
That  Scripture  is  the  only  cure  of  wo. 
The  field  of  promise,  how  it  throws  abroad 
Its  perfume  o'er  the  Christian's  thorny  road ! 
The  soul,  reposing  on  assured  belief, 
Feels  herself  happy  amidst  all  her  grief; 
Forgets  her  labor  as  she  toils  along, 
Weeps  tears  of  joy,  and  bursts  into  a  song. 

"  MY  PEACE  I  LEAVE  WITH  YOU,  MY  PEACE  I  GIVE  UNTO  YOU ;  NOT  AS 
THE  WORLD  GIVETH,  GIVE  I  UNTO  YOU."— John  xir,  29. 

Righteous  men  are  entitled  to  peculiar  privileges.  One 
of  these,  and  by  no  means  the  least  important,  is  comfort 
in  affliction.  As  in  the  present  state  no  man  is  beyond 
the  reach  of  trouble,  good  men  suffer  in  common  with  their 
fellow-creatures  ;  but  in  their  afflictions  they  have  sources 
of  consolation  of  which  the  world  knoweth  nothing.  They 
are  kept  in  peace  :  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace, 
whose  mind  is  stayed  on  thee,  because  he  trusteth  in  thee." 
They  hear  the  voice  of  Christ  addressing  them  as  he  did 
his  afflicted  disciples,  "  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled, 
neither  let  it  be  afraid."  Having  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold 
on  the  hope  set  before  them,  they  are  authorized  to  expect 
strong  consolation,  and  to  appropriate  to  themselves  the 
comforts  which  the  word  of  God  so  abundantly  supplies. 
Here,  in  the  lowest  depths  of  affliction,  is  an  unfailing 
source  of  consolation  and  delight.  Whatever  else  is  un- 
certain, fading,  and  deceptive,  the  word  of  God,  on  which 
he  hath  caused  us  to  hope,  is  sure,  faithful,  and  eternal. 
These  comforts  are  various  as  our  necessities,  full  as  our 
desires,  and  free  as  our  indigent  circumstances  require. 
When  they  are  realized,  no  privation  excites  complaint, 
no  pain  disposes  to  murmuring,  no  angry  passions  agitate 


\ 


k 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


71 


the  breast,  no  fear  of  increasing  trouble  overwhelms  the 
soul.     They  enable  us  to  acquiesce  in  the  dispensations 
of  Providence.     Like  the  wood  with  which  Moses  sweet- 
ened  the  bitter  waters  of  Marah,  they  render  our  afflictions 
not  only  palatable,  but  also  a  subject  of  rejoicing,  "knowmg 
that  tribulation  worketh  patience ;  and  patience,  experience ; 
and  experience,  hope;    and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed; 
because  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  our  hearts. 
That  you  may  realize  these  comforts,  attentively  consider 
The  paternal    character  of  Deity.      The   gospel    doc- 
trine  of  reconciliation,  with  its  consequence,   adoption, 
assures  us,  that  God  is  the  friend  and  father  of  all  who 
believe  in  Christ  Jesus.     The   proper   effect  of  such  a 
character,  when  seen  in  all  its  glorious  excellence,  is  to 
banish  distrust  and  suspicion,  and  to  awaken  admirmglove 
and  child-like  confidence*    The  kindness  and  love  of  an 
earthly  parent  produce  these  feelings,  and  his  very  cha- 
racter  is  regarded  as  a  sufficient  warrant  for  an  undeviatmg 
attention  to  our  happiness  and  welfare.   But  what  earthlypa- 
rent  will  bear  a  comparison  with  God  ?    He  has  none  of  the 
imperfections  of  his  creatures,  but,  in  all  his  dealmgs  with 
his  children,  he  is  actuated  by  immutable  truth,  unbending 
fidelity,  and  infinite  and  unchanging  love.     They  are  as- 
sured that  all  things  shall  work  together  for  their  good ; 
that  prosperity  shall  be  blessed,  and  affliction  sanctified ; 
that  distress  is  not  punishment,  but  correction,  and  trial, 
and  discipline  ;    -  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but 
delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him 
also  freely  give  us  all  things  ?"-all  things  needful-all 
things  requisite  to  eternal  salvation.     Affliction  is  among 
the  promises  of  the  covenant,  and  is   sent  as  a  special 
token  of  our  heavenly  Father's  love  :  "  for  whom  the  Lord 
lovcth,  he  correcteth ;  even  as  a  father  the  son  in  whom 
he  deUghteth."     At  the  same  time  it  cannot  be  too  dis- 
tinctly stated,  or  remembered,  that  God  "  doth  not  afflict 


72 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


willingly,  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men."  The  necessity 
of  our  affliction  does  not  rest  with  God,  but  with  ourselves ; 
and,  if  our  state  was  such  as  never  to  require  affliction, 
he  would  never  employ  the  rod.  In  all  our  sufferings 
how  striking  are  the  displays  of  his  wisdom  and  mercy ! 

How  conspicuous  is  his  paternal  wisdom !    "  His  under- 
standing  is   infinite."      He   knoweth   the   end  from  the 
beginning,  and  what  are  the  best  methods  for  accomplish- 
ing his  own  gracious  purposes.     He  knows  when  to  use 
the  rod,  and  when  to  withhold  it.     He  is  acquainted  with 
what  measure  to  afflict ;  for  "  he  remembereth  that  we  are 
but  dust."     He  will  not,  therefore,  lay  more  upon  us  than 
we  are  able  to  bear  ;  he  will  not  afflict  us  beyond  what  he 
sees  to  be  essentially  connected  with  our  advantage.     Inti- 
mately acquainted  with  all  the  circumstances  of  his  people, 
their  age,  situation,  disposition,  advantages,  and  tempta- 
tions, he  sees  the  particular  kind  of  affliction  which  is 
needful  for  the  promotion  of  their  welfare.     He  places 
some  of  his  saints  in  the  vale  of  poverty,  because  he  knows 
they  could  not  resist  the  snares  of  affluence  ; — others  he 
deprives  of  bodily  health ;  some  he  dooms  to  months  or 
years  of  great  adversity ;  others  he  bereaves  of  family  and 
friends,  and  leaves  them,  as  forlorn  pilgrims,  to  grope  their 
darkling  way  to  the  new  Jerusalem.     But,   in  all  these 
methods  of  his  providence,  he  is  guided  by  that  infinite 
wisdom  which  prompts  him  to  study  the  different  characters 
of  his  children,  and  to  apportion  that  discipline  to  each  of 
them  which  will  best  secure  the  end  of  all  the  divine  dis- 
pensations— the  sanctification  of  their  nature.     We  may 
not,  at  the  present,  be  able  to  see  the  necessity  that  has 
prompted  the   affliction,  nor  the   advantages  which  it  is 
calculated  to  produce,  because  we  do  not  fully  know  either 
ourselves,  our  defects,  or  our  maladies  ;  and,  therefore,  we 
cannot  judge  properly  of  the  means  employed  to  cure  and 
improve  us; — but   of  this  we  may  be  assured,  that  he 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


73 


never  errs  in  the  time,  the  place,  the  continuance,  the 
instrument,  or  the  kind  of  affliction ; — it  is  precisely  the 
very  thing  we  need,  and  nothing  could  be  altered  without 
injury. 

How  conspicuous,  also,  is  his  paternal  mercy !  There  is 
much  mercy  mingled  in  the  bitterest  cup  that  our  heavenly 
Father  puts  into  our  hand.  "  He  hath  not  dealt  with  us 
after  our  sins,  nor  rewarded  us  according  to  our  iniquities." 
How  merciful  have  been  our  afflictions  in  the  degree  of 
their  severity  [  Take  your  sufferings,  and  place  them  at 
the  side  of  your  deserts.  Think  how  you  have  sinned 
against  God ;  how  you  have  requited  his  love,  and  abused 
his  patience ;  how  little  fruit  you  have  brought  forth,  and 
how  little  service  you  have  rendered  ;  and  then  say,  what 
would  you  have  suffered  if  you  had  met  with  your  deserts  ? 
May  you  not  exclaim  with  the  prophet,  "  It  is  of  the  Lord's 
mercies  that  we  are  not  consumed,  because  his  compas- 
sions fail  not  ?"  How  merciful  have  been  our  afflictions 
in  their  number!  O  !  how  few  have  they  been,  compared 
with  our  mercies !  Of  this  fact  it  is  sometimes  difficult 
to  persuade  the  afflicted  :  the  pressure  of  present  sufferings 
obliterates  the  recollection  of  past  mercies.  Life  is  beheld 
in  all  its  gloom,  and  is  regarded  only  as  a  scene  of  wretch- 
edness and  sorrow.  But  this  argues  both  injustice  and 
ingratitude.  Think  how  many  weeks,  and  months,  and 
years,  you  have  passed  in  health,  and  ea'se,  and  comfort ; 
how  many  pleasurable  feelings  you  have  had ;  how  many 
friends  you  have  enjoyed  ;  how  many  blessings  of  various 
kinds  you  have  tasted  ;  and  you  will  be  constrained  to 
acknowledge  that  you  have  much  more  abundant  cause  for 
thanksgiving  than  for  complaint.  How  merciful  have 
been  our  afflictions  in  comparison  with  those  of  others! 
Your  affliction  can  scarcely  be  so  great,  but  you  may  dis- 
cover among  your  fellow-creatures  some  whose  sufferings 
exceed  your  own.     You  have  lost  part  of  your  substance ; 


74 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


but  they  have  lost  all.     You  have  buried  one  of  your 
children ;  but  of  theirs  not  one  is  left  to  stay  the  tide  of 
sorrow.     You  have  days,  perhaps  months,  of  dreariness 
and  solitude ;  they  spend  their  days  in  groaning,  and  their 
nights  in  anguish.     Can  the  review  of  such  a  distinction 
fail  to  inspire,  not  only  submission,  but  consolation  ?    How 
merciful  are  our  afflictions,  too,  in  their  alleviations !    The 
evils  we  suffer  are  never  without  some  mixture  of  good. 
As  there  is  no  condition  on  earth  of  pure  unmixed  felicity, 
so  there  is  none  so  miserable  as  to  be  destitute  of  ever}^ 
comfort.     Do  you  mourn  the  loss  of  some  beloved  friend  ? 
are  there  not  others  remaining  from  whom  you  may  expect 
much   comfort  ?     Is   your  body  afflicted  ?    have   you  not 
reason  to  be  thankful  that  your  mind  continues  vigorous 
and  entire  ?     Are  you  poor  and  despised  ?  but  have  you 
not  the   favor  and   enjoyment  of  God  ?    and  can  he  be 
despicable  who  is  favored  with  the  special  friendship  of 
the    sovereign    Majesty   of  the    universe  ?      Can   he   be 
miserable,  or  destitute,  who  hath  the  Lord  for  his  portion, 
who  enjoy eth  the  fountain  of  all  happiness,  and  who  hath 
the  light  of  God's  countenance  to  cheer  him,  and   the 
consolations  of  the  divine  Spirit  to  comfort  and  refresh 
him  ?     Have  you  lost  your  worldly  substance  ?  still  you 
have  the  assurance  of  "  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  unde- 
filed,  and  that  fadeth  not  away."     "  I  one  day,"  says  Mr. 
Newton,  "  visited   a  family  that  had  suffered  by  a  fire, 
which  had  destroyed   all  the    house   and  the  goods.     I 
found  the  pious  mistress  in  tears.     I  said,  '  Madam,  I  give 
you  joy.'     Surprised,  and  ready  to  be  offended,   she  ex- 
claimed, '  What !  joy  that  all  my  property  is  consumed  V 
*  I  give  you  joy  that  you  have  so  much  property  that  no 
fire  can  touch.'     This  checked  the  tide  of  grief,  and  she 
wiped  away  her  tears,  and  smiled  like  the  sun  shining 
after  an  April    shower."     How  merciful,  also,  have  been 
our  afflictions  in  the  manner  in  which  they  have  approached 


COMFORT   IN  AFFLICTION. 


75 


us.  We  have  not  beheld  the  whole  scene  of  human  life 
at  once.  Its  sorrows  have  not  burst  forth  upon  us  in  their 
combined  and  aggravated  form.  God  hath  not  suffered  us 
to  be  tried  beyond  what  we  were  able  to  bear ;  and  in  all 
cases  our  sufferings  have  been  mitigated  by  the  promise 
of  divine  assistance  and  support. 

Another  source  of  consolation  is  the  contrast  which  ex- 
ists between  the  different  tendencies  of  prosperity  and  adver- 
sity.    Prosperity  elates  the  mind  to  a  degree  altogether 
unsuited  to  our  dependence  and  our  guilt — affliction  mor- 
tifies and  abases  it.     It  is  when  we  have  all  and  abound, 
that  we  are  apt  to  forget  and  deny  God ;  it  is  in  trouble 
we  say,  "  It  is  the  Lord ;"  as  the  first  impressions  of  supe- 
rior agency  are  supposed  to  have  been  derived,  not  from  the 
splendor  of  summer,  or  the  plenty  of  autumn — ^but  from  the 
tempest  and  the  earthquake,  the  thunder  and  the  pestilence. 
Prosperity  contributes  to  the  indulgence  of  our  carnal  pas- 
sions and  appetites  ;  poverty,  by  the  restrictions  and  pains 
it  imposes,  checks  and  mortifies  them.     Prosperity  ener- 
vates and  unfits  us  for  exertion  and  for  trial ;  poverty  is  a 
school  in  which  we  learn  fortitude  and  patience  ;  it  is  by 
its  discipline  that  these  graces  are  exercised  and  strength- 
ened, as  the  mountain  oak  hardens  to  the  blast,  and  gathers 
firmness  from  the    storm  which  threatens  its  existence. 
Prosperity  induces  selfishness  ;  the  young  man,  who  had 
large  possessions,  refused  to  part  with  them  to  feed  the 
poor,  though  treasures  in  heaven  were  to  be  the  recompense 
of  his  sacrifice  : — affliction  teaches  sympathy  ;  it  gives  us 
the  experience  of  a  sufferer's  heart,  and  this  impels  us  to 
shed  the  sympathetic  tear,  to  dry  the  weeping  eye,  to  soothe 
the  throbbing  breast,  and  to  contribute  to  the  happiness 
and  welfare  of  men.     Prosperity  conceals  from  us   our 
spiritual  wants,  as  the  Laodiceans,  who,  when  rich  and 
increased  in  goods,  fondly  presumed  that  they  stood  in 
need  of  nothing,  whereas  God   pronounced  them  to  be 


76 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


"  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked ;" 
adversity,  by  showing  us  our  destitution  and  helplessness, 
causes  us  to  have  recourse  to  the  consolations,  the  hopes, 
and  the  supports  of  religion.  To  the  poor  was  the  gospel 
originally  preached,  and  by  the  poor  it  is  still  most  cor- 
dially embraced.  Prosperity  is  an  opiate  to  the  conscience ; 
affliction  rouses  it  from  its  lethargy,  causes  it  to  connect 
suffering  with  guilt,  and  thus  to  place  our  sins  before  our 
face.  Prosperity  draws  the  soul  from  God ;  affliction 
recalls  to  duty  those  whom  the  bounty  of  providence  could 
not  keep  in  the  ways  of  the  Lord.  Prosperity  is  the  sul- 
try heat  that  generates  disease  ;  affliction  the  storm  that 
purifies  the  atmosphere.  Prosperity  is  the  unruffled  deep, 
and  the  gentle  breeze,  when  a  novice  may  guide  the  ves- 
sel— it  is  the  time  of  peace,  when  the  coward  may  boast ; 
but  adversity  is  the  tempest,  and  the  conflict,  where  skill 
and  courage  are  put  to  the  test.  Prosperity  induces  an 
abhorrence  of  death.  O  how  bitter  is  the  thought  of  death 
to  a  man  who  is  at  ease  in  his  possessions,  who  is  living 
in  the  sunshine  of  worldly  ease  and  enjoyment !  adversity 
causes  us  to  regard  it  as  a  welcome  retreat  from  toil  and 
suffering ;  as  the  haven  where  the  tempestuous  voyage  is 
to  terminate  ;  the  home  where  the  exile  is  to  find  a  recom- 
pense for  his  privations  and  woes. 

In  the  contrast  thus  drawn,  it  is  not  meant  to  be  insinu- 
ated, that  they  whom  Providence  blesses  with  prosperity 
do  always  abuse  its  bounty,  and  render  it  subservient  to 
their  spiritual  injury.  The  guilt  of  the  rich  man  in  the 
Gospel  did  not  consist  in  his  possessing  wealth,  any  more 
than  the  salvation  of  Lazarus  depended  merely  upon  liis 
poverty  and  disease.  The  grace  of  God  is  not  confined 
to  any  condition  or  rank  in  life — it  is  limited  to  none — it 
can  sanctify  all.  But  from  the  effects  which  have  been 
described,  we  are  taught  the  salutary  nature  of  those  ad- 
verse dispensations  of  which  we  are  so  prone  to  complain. 


COMFORT   IN   AFFLICTION. 


77 


Like  children,  we  wish  for  every  indulgence,  regardless 
of  the  good  or  evil  which  may  be  produced.  Thus  wealth 
and  prosperity  are  viewed  as  alone  desirable,  and  affliction 
is  dreaded  as  the  greatest  evil.  Alas !  "  who  knoweth 
what  is  good  for  man  in  this  life  ?"  Were  we  permitted 
to  climb  the  height  to  which  we  aspire,  perhaps  it  would 
only  be  a  prelude  to  a  fall  from  which  we  might  never 
arise.  Let  us  learn,  then,  to  consider  the  afflictions  of 
life  as  the  merciful  visitations  of  Heaven. 

The  great  and  precious  promises  of  the  gospel  supply  us 
with  strong   consolation.     The  word  of  promise  is  the 
soul's  great  comfort  in  time  of  trouble.     "  This,"  says  the 
Psalmist,  "  is  my  comfort  in  my  affliction."     The  promises 
are  declarative  of  the  nature  and  will  of  God.     Here,  as  in 
a  glass,  we  behold  his  glory  in  the  face  of  Jesus  Christ. 
As  his  holiness  shines  resplendent  in  his  commands,  and 
his  justice  in  his  threatenings,  so  in  his  promises  we  see 
the  manifestation  of  his  goodness,  and  grace,  and  bounty. 
They  present  us  with  the  full  impression  of  the  paternal 
character  of  the  Deity.     They  furnish  the  most  convincing 
evidence  that  he  "  is  love."     The  most  pathetic  language, 
the  most  endearing  relations,  the  most  tender  images,  are 
employed,  to  convey  to  us  an  idea  of  his  goodness.     In  the 
time  of  trouble,  therefore,  our  views  of  God  are  to  be  re- 
gulated, not  by  the  fears  and  perplexities  of  our  minds,  but 
by  the  revelation  he  has  thus  made  of  himself.     The  pro- 
mises are  also  declarations  of  God's  will  and  purposes 
toward  those  who  seek  him  ;  and  they  are  made  in  a  man- 
ner suited  to  our  diversified  conditions  and  wants.     They 
all  proceed    from  the    same   fountain    of  grace,  but   are 
branched  out  into  innumerable  streams,  to  meet  our  varied 
necessities.     There  is  no  condition  in  which  we  can  find 
ourselves  for  which  there  is  not  some  appropriate  promise 
suited  to  our  case.     The  word  of  God  not  only  abounds 
in  general  announcements  of  divine  compassion,  but  also 


78 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


in  particular  assurances  to  persons  in  peculiar  circum- 
stances. 

Are  you  trembling  under  a  sense  of  guilt  and  danger, 
and  are  you  walking  in  spiritual  darkness  ?  how  encourag- 
ing the  divine  promise,  "  Thus  saith  the  high  and  lofty 
One,  that  inhabiteth  eternity,  whose  name  is  Holy ;  I 
dwell  in  the  high  and  holy  place,  with  him  also  that  is  of 
a  contrite  and  humble  spirit,  to  revive  the  spirit  of  the 
humble,  and  to  revive  the  heart  of  the  contrite  ones." 
"  Come  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord ; 
though  your  sins  be  as  scarlet,  they  shall  be  white  as 
snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall  be  as 
wool."  Here  is  the  assurance  of  forgiveness.  O,  joyful 
tidings  !  If  sin  is  pardoned,  affliction  and  death  have 
nothing  in  them  to  excite  alarm.  "  The  sting  of  death  is 
sin ;  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law,"  in  all  its  awful 
curses  ;  "  but  thanks  be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  vic- 
tory through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Reconciled  unto 
God  through  the  death  of  his  Son,  enemies  are  rendered 
beneficial,  afflictions  salutary  medicines,  and  death  an 
eternal  gain. 

Are  you  discouraged  by  a  sense  of  weakness  ?  how 
reviving  the  assurance,  "  Fear  thou  not ;  for  I  am  with 
thee :  be  not  dismayed ;  for  I  am  thy  God :  I  will  strengthen 
thee ;  yea,  I  will  help  thee ;  yea,  I  will  uphold  thee  with 
the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness."  "  When  thou  passest 
through  the  waters,  I  will  be  with  thee  ;  and  through  the 
rivers,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee  ;  when  thou  walkest 
through  the  fire  thou  shalt  not  be  burned,  neither  shall  the 
flame  kindle  upon  thee.  For  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  the 
Holy  One  of  Israel,  thy  Saviour."  Having  these  promises, 
every  afflicted  Christian  may  say  with  Paul,  "  I  am  filled 
with  comfort,  I   am  exceeding  joyful  in  all  my  tribula- 


tions. 


)j 


Are  you  alarmed  by  the  approach  of  danger  ?  "  Call  upon 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


79 


me,"  says  God,  "  in  the  day  of  trouble ;  I  will  deliver  thee, 
and  thou  shalt  glorify  me."  This  blessed  promise  denotes  a 
double  deliverance;  a  deliverance  in  trouble,  and  a  deliver- 
ance out  of  it.  If  God  doth  not  immediately  put  an  end  to 
the  afflictions  of  his  people,  yet  they  shall  have  his  gra- 
cious presence,  and  his  eflfectual  support ;  he  will  take 
notice  of  their  sorrows,  and  know  their  souls  in  adversity ; 
he  will  visit  them  and  comfort  them ;  he  will  take  their 
part  and  maintain  their  interests  ;  and  this  shall  be  in  an- 
swer to  prayer.  And,  if  God  proportion  our  strength  to 
the  degree  and  continuance  of  our  trouble — if  he  keep  us 
from  offending  him  by  impatience  and  discontent,  and  make 
death  at  last  a  discharge  for  all  our  sorrows,  then  his 
promise  is  faithfully  fulfilled. 

Are  you  suffering  from  disappointment,  or  neglect,  or 
loss  of  friends  ?  still  there  are  promises  suited  to  your  case. 
"  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain  thee ; 
he  shall  never  suffer  the  righteous  to  be  moved."  "  I  will 
not  leave  you  comfortless  :  I  will  come  to  you."  "  Peace 
I  leave  with  you ;  my  peace  I  give  unto  you ;  not  as  the 
world  giveth,  give  I  unto  you."  "  In  the  world  ye  shall 
have  tribulation  ;  but  be  of  good  cheer,  I  have  overcome 
the  world."     "  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee." 

Are  you  in  sickness  1  "  The  Lord  will  strengthen  you 
on  the  bed  of  languishing ;  he  will  make  all  your  bed  in 

your  sickness." 

Are  you  in  poverty  ?  "  When  the  poor  and  needy  seek 
water,  and  there  is  none,  and  their  tongue  faileth  for  thirst, 
I,  the  Lord,  will  hear  them  ;  I,  the  God  of  Israel,  will  not 

forsake  them." 

Are  you  aged  and  infirm  1  "  Even  to  your  old  age  I  am 
He,  and  even  to  hoary  hairs  will  I  carry  you.  I  have  made 
and  I  will  bear ;  even  I  will  carry  and  deliver  you." 

Are  you  suffering  from  slander  and  reproach  ?  "  Hearken 
unto  me,  ye  that  know  righteousness,  the  people  in  whose 


80 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


heart  is  my  law  ;  fear  ye  not  the  reproach  of  men,  neither 
be  ye  afraid  of  their  revilings,  for  the  moth  shall  eat  them 
up  like  a  garment,  and  the  worm  shall  eat  them  like  wool ; 
but  my  righteousness  shall  be  for  ever,  and  my  salvation 
from  generation  to  generation." 

O,  the  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises  of  God  ! 
the  all-sufficient  provision  he  hath  made  "for  all  time  of  our 
tribulation,  and  all  time  of  our  wealth,  for  the  hour  of  death, 
and  for  the  day  of  judgment !"  Recollect,  these  promises 
are  to  all  who  seek  their  accomplishment  with  their  whole 
heart.  God  is  faithful,  nor  can  his  word  fall  to  the 
ground.  These  promises,  too,  are  addressed  to  us  in  all 
their  fullness.  They  show  us  that  good,  and  perfect,  and 
acceptable  will  of  God,  which  we  are  called  to  prove  and 
experience  for  ourselves.  Who  shall  be  moved  from  his 
steadfastness,  that  can  lay  hold  of  these  promises,  and 
stay  himself  upon  them  ?  for  just  in  proportion  as  we  can 
do  this,  we  shall  possess  our  souls  in  patience  ;  we  shall 
"  abound  in  hope,"  and  be  "joyful  in  tribulation." 

The  history  of  good  men  in  every  age,  who  have  suffered 
the  same  afflictions  with  ourselves,  furnishes  a  source  of 
comfort ;  an  argument  which  St.  James  urges  in  the  fol- 
lowing words :  "  Take,  my  brethren,  the  prophets,  who 
have  spoken  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  for  an  example  of 
suffering  affliction,  and  of  patience.  Behold,  we  count 
them  happy  which  endure.  Ye  have  heard  of  the  patience 
of  Job,  and  have  seen  the  end  of  the  Lord ;  that  the  Lord 
is  very  pitiful  and  of  tender  mercy."  These  instances 
show  us  that  "no  strange  thing  hath  happened  unto  us ;"  and 
that  the  most  pious  and  approved  saints  have  often  been 
the  most  afflicted.  Afflictions,  therefore,  however  long  and 
painful,  are  not  the  marks  of  God's  displeasure.  Time 
would  fail  to  enumerate  the  individual  instances  of  suffer- 
ing that  occur  in  the  Old  Testament  history  ;  we  are,  how- 
ever, presented  with  a  sunmiary  of  them  in  the  Epistle 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


81 


to  the  Hebrews  :  "  They  had  trials  of  cruel  mockings  and 
scourgings,  yea,  moreover,  of  bonds  and  imprisonment; 
they  were    stoned,  were   sawn   asunder,  were   tempted, 
were  slain  with  the  sword  ;  they  wandered  about  in  sheep 
skins  and  goat  skins  ;  being  destitute,  afflicted,  tormented, 
(of  whom  the  world  was  not  worthy :)  they  wandered  in 
deserts,  and  in  mountains,  and  in  dens  and  caves  of  the 
earth."     In  all  these  troubles  they  were  more  than  con- 
querors through  faith ;  that  faith  which  is  "the  substance  of 
things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."    "  They 
were  tortured,  not  accepting   deliverance"    upon    terms 
which  conscience  could  not  approve  of,  "  that  they  might 
obtain  a  better  resurrection :"  while  out  of  weakness  they 
were  made  strong  in  the  strength  of  God,  and  in  the  power 
of  his  might.     Nor  was  the  divine  procedure  with  regard 
to  the  people  of  God  changed  under  the  dispensation  of  the 
gospel.     We  find  the  saints  undergoing  the  same  disci- 
pline, exhibiting  the  same  constancy,  supported  by  the  same 
influence  and  the  same  hope.     "  I  think  that  God  hath  set 
forth  us,  the  apostles,  last  as  it  were  appointed  unto  death; 
for  we  are  a  spectacle  unto  the  world,  and  to  angels,  and 
to  men.     Even  unto  this  present  hour,  we  both  hunger, 
and  thirst,  and  are  naked,  and  are  buffeted,  and  have  no 
certain  dwelling  place  ;  and  labor,  working  with  our  own 
hands :   being  reviled,   we  bless ;   being  persecuted,  we 
suffer  it ;  being  defamed,  we  entreat ;  we  are  made  as  the 
filth  of  the  world,  and  the  offscouring  of  all  things  unto  this 
day."     "  But  blessed  be  God,  even  the  Father  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Father  of  mercies,  and  the  God  of  all 
comfort,  who  comforteth  us  in  all  our  tribulations  ;  for  as 
the  sufferings  of  Christ  abound  in  us,  so  our  consolation 
aboundeth  by  Christ.     We  are  troubled  on  every  side,  yet 
not  distressed ;    we  are  perplexed,  but  not  in   despair ; 
persecuted,  but  not  forsaken  ;  cast  down,  but  not  destroy- 
ed ;    alway  bearing  about  in  the  body  the  dying  of  our 
•  4* 


82 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


83 


Lord  Jesus,  that  the  life  also  of  Jesus  might  be  made 
manifest  in  our  body.  Knowing  that  he  who  raised  up 
the  Lord  Jesus,  shall  raise  us  up  also  by  Jesus.  For 
which  cause  we  faint  not ;  but  though  our  outward  man 
perish,  yet  the  inward  man  is  renewed  day  by  day  ;  while 
we  look  not  at  the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things 
which  are  not  seen ;  for  the  things  which  are  seen  are 
temporal,  but  the  things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal." 
Let  the  afflicted,  then,  survey  attentively  the  church  of 
God,  "  whose  names  are  written  in  heaven."  "  These 
are  they  who  have  come  through  great  tribulation."  Here 
are  the  patriarchs  and  prophets  of  old ;  here  are  the  dis- 
ciples and  apostles  of  Jesus  Christ ;  here  is  the  noble 
army  of  martyrs ;  here  are  all  who,  though  poor,  and  ob- 
scure, and  mean,  while  on  earth,  now  "  shine  forth  as  the 
sun  in  the  kingdom  of  their  Father ;"  they  bear  their  united 
testimony  that  it  is  "  through  much  tribulation  we  must 
enter  the  kingdom."  Nothing  has  yet  befallen  you  but 
what  is  common  to  men.  You  have  not  resisted  unto 
blood,  as  they  did.  The  ordinary  distresses  of  life  almost 
lose  the  name  of  evils  when  contrasted  with  the  sufferings 
which  they  underwent.  Yet,  though  men  of  like  infirmi- 
ties and  passions  with  ourselves, "  through  faith  and  patience 
they  now  inherit  the  promises."  Our  path  lies  in  the  same 
direction.  Be  you,  therefore,  a  follower  of  them.  You 
have  the  same  promises  to  cheer  you  in  the  way,  the  same 
Spirit  to  be  your  comforter,  the  same  God  to  be  your 
father,  the  same  Mediator  for  your  friend,  and  the  same 
heaven  in  prospect  for  your  home.  The  contemplation  of 
their  example  cannot  fail  to  dispel  every  desponding  thought, 
to  inspire  confidence  and  hope,  and  to  call  forth  the  lan- 
guage of  submission,  and  even  of  joyfulness.  *'  Surely," 
says  the  consoled  sufferer,  "  if  anything  had  been  better 
and  more  conducive  for  the  salvation  of  man  than  suffering, 
God  would  certainly  have  shown  it,  and  have  conducted  his 


? 


servants  in  that  way  to  glory.  But  his  choicest  servants  have 
passed  through  much  tribulation,  and  happy  are  they,  who 
with  them  are  made  perfect  through  suffering.  Willingly 
and  thankfully,  therefore,  O  heavenly  Father !  do  I  embrace 
these  trials  of  my  faith  and  patience.  I  accept  them  as 
tokens  of  thy  love,  and  look  with  pleasure  to  my  fellow- 
sufferers  who  have  preceded  me." 

"  Must  I  be  carried  to  the  skies 
On  flowery  beds  of  ease, 
While  others  struggled  for  the  prize. 
And  sail'd  through  bloody  seas?" 

Consider,  affliction  does  not  forbid  our  enjoyment  of  God. 
We  are  too  prone  to  think  that  affliction  and  enjoyment 
are  incompatible.     But  what,  though  we  are  deprived  of 
the   enjoyment  we   had  in  health,  in  our  family,  in  our 
active  and  useful  exertions,  in  the  good  things  of  Provi- 
dence, or  in  life  itself,  our  principal  comfort  still  remains. 
Affliction  may  promote  the  enjoyment  of  God,  and  by 
possessing  him,  all  that  is  amiable  and  excellent  in  the 
creature  may  be  enjoyed  in  a  manner  incomparably  better 
than  in  the  creatures  themselves.     His  infinite  goodness 
can  supply  all  our  wants,  satisfy  all  our  desires,  allay  all 
our  sorrows,  and  conquer  all  our  fears.     One  beam  of  his 
countenance  can  revive  the  spirit  amidst  the  darkest  scenes 
of  outward  trouble.    What  loss  can  make  a  Christian  poor, 
whose  treasure  is  in  heaven  ?    What  danger  can  render 
him  anxious,  whose  "  heart  is  fixed,  trusting  in  the  Lord  ?" 
What  disaster  can  rob  him  of  happiness,  whose  enjoyment 
is  in  God  ?    What  death  can  destroy  him,  whose  "  life  is 
hid  with  Christ  in  God  ?"     Deprive  him  of  all  the  con- 
tents of  the  world,  yet  in  God  he  possesses  all  things  ;  and 
by  communion  with  him,  heaven  descends  into  his  soul, 
or  he  ascends  to  heaven,  where  God  is  all  and  in  all. 
Divine  joy  is  not  deferred  until  our  entrance  into  the  ce- 
lestial world ;   there  it  is  purified,  freed  from  all  alloy ; 


84 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


enlarged,  to  the  utmost  extent  of  the  soul's  capacity ;  per- 
petuated, without  interruption  and  without  end ;  but  it 
begins  here.  The  believer  has  earnests  and  foretastes  ; 
he  knows,  by  happy  experience,  that  "  the  Lord  is  good," 
and  that  "  blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  him."  No 
creature  can  be  a  substitute  for  him,  but  he  is  more  ifaan  a 
substitute  for  every  creature ;  and  his  presence  can  illu- 
mine, and  cheer,  and  fertilize,  the  gloomiest  desert.  "  I 
will  allure  her,  and  bring  her  into  the  wilderness,  and 
speak  comfortably  unto  her.  And  I  will  give  her  vine- 
yards from  thence,  and  the  valley  of  Achor  for  a  door  of 
hope  ;  and  she  shall  sing  there."  So  the  prophet  found 
it ;  hence  he  exclaims,  "  Although  the  fig-tree  shall  not 
blossom,  neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vines ;  the  labor  of 
the  olive  shall  fail,  and  the  fields  shall  yield  no  meat ;  the 
flocks  shall  be  cut  oflT  from  the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no 
herd  in  the  stall ;"  yet  he  adds,  amidst  this  scene  of  fearful 
and  extreme  destitution,  "  yet  I  will  rejoice  in  the  Lord, 
I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation."  So  the  apostles 
found  it.  They  had  been  punished  with  stripes,  thrust 
into  the  innermost  dungeon,  and  their  feet  made  fast  in 
the  stocks,  but  God  was  with  them,  and  his  presence  dif- 
fused light  and  joy,  so  that  they  sung  praises  to  him  at 
midnight.  So  Spilsbury  found  it.  He  had  been  imprisoned 
for  conscience'  sake,  and  was  arrested  with  a  view  to  his 
being  confined  a  second  time.  As  his  wife  and  children 
stood  weeping  around  him,  he  said  to  them,  "  I  am  not 
afraid  of  going  to  prison  now,  for  I  found  God  there  the 
first  time."  And  the  same  thing  has  been  experienced  by 
thousands  of  suffering  saints,  both  in  life  and  in  death. 
One  of  these,  who  had  devoted  himself  to  the  cause  of 
God  in  foreign  lands,  as  he  lay  upon  his  death-bed,  was 
reminded  by  a  friend  of  the  darkness  of  the  valley  of 
death :  "  O  !"  said  the  dying  saint,  "  it  is  not  dark ;  it  is 
all  light,  for  Jesus  is  with  me."     We  need  not  repine  at 


COMFORT    IN    AFFLICTION. 


85 


the  loss  of  the  stream,  if  we  can  have  access  to  the  foun- 
tain ;  or  of  the  glimmering  taper,  if  we  can  have  the 
clear  light  of  day.  How  sublime  is  the  exclamation  of 
Doddridge  !  but  it  is  founded  on  reason  and  truth ;  make  it, 
Christian,  whatever  threatens,  your  own : 

If  thou,  my  Jesus,  still  art  nigh, 
Cheerful  I  live,  and  cheerful  die ; 
Secure,  when  mortal  comforts  flee, 
To  find  ten  thousand  worlds  in  thee. 


Contemplate,  as  a  source  of  consolation,  the  sufferings  of 
your  Lord  and  Saviour.  He,  whom  we  follow,  was  emi- 
nently a  sufferer.  As  he  stooped  to  assume  our  nature 
that  he  might  expiate  our  guilt,  so,  that  he  might  give  us 
an  example  of  patience,  resignation,  and  fortitude,  he  sub- 
jected himself  to  a  condition  of  poverty,  reproach,  and 
degradation.  He  shut  himself  out  of  a  thousand  enjoy- 
ments, and  became  acquainted  with  inexpressible  sorrow. 
The  bread  of  afliiction  was  his  food,  and  he  drank  of  the 
cup  of  bitterness.  He  was,  beyond  all  expression,  "  a 
man  of  sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief."  If  we  trace 
his  footsteps,  from  the  manger  to  the  cross,  we  can  scarcely 
discover  anything  that  could  yield  him  comfort.  In  gene- 
ral, those  who  attach  themselves  to  a  great  leader,  take  an 
interest  in  following  him  through  scenes  of  trial,  and  in 
participating  in  his  difliculties  and  di»sters  ;  especially 
if  they  expect  to  be  associated  with  him  in  his  honors,  on 
the  completion  of  his  undertaking,  and  to  review,  in  his 
presence,  the  history  of  their  struggles  and  achievements. 
Such  is  the  prospect  held  out  to  the  suffering  Christian. 
From  the  height  of  that  glory  to  which  the  Saviour  is 
exalted  as  the  reward  of  his  debasement,  he  calls,  saying, 
"  Him  that  overcometh  will  I  grant  to  sit  down  with  me 
on  my  throne  ;  even  as  I  also  overcame,  and  am  set  down 
with  my  Father  on  his  throne."      Are  you  in  a  situation 


86 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 


to  which  these  words  are  applicable  ?  then  remember  that 
there  is  but  one  way  by  which  you  can  reach  the  crown  ; 
and  will  you  complain,  when  in  this  path  you  see  Christ, 
the  captain  of  your  salvation,  going  before  you  ?  Was  he 
made  perfect  through  sufferings,  and  shall  you  think  it 
hard  to  be  perfected  by  the  same  process  ?  Shall  you  be 
dissatisfied  if  the  eternal  Father  treats  you  even  as  he 
treated  his  well-beloved  Son  ?  Would  you  reign  with 
Christ,  and  not  suffer  with  him  ?  Can  the  common  soldier 
complain,  when  he  sees  the  commander  enduring  the  same 
privations  with  himself  ?  Should  we  not  rather  rejoice  in 
this  identity  of  experience — this  sameness  of  discipline 
with  the  Son  of  God  ?  Should  not  the  servant  rejoice  to 
be  treated  as  his  Master  ?  and  the  disciple,  to  be  dealt 
with  as  his  Lord  ?  But,  ah !  what  are  your  sufferings 
compared  with  his  ?  Are  you  poor  ? — the  Son  of  man  had 
not  where  to  lay  his  head.  Are  you  in  pain  and  sorrow  ? 
— behold,  and  see,  if  there  be  any  sorrow  like  unto  his 
sorrow,  wherewith  the  Lord  afflicted  him  in  the  day  of  his 
fierce  anger.  Are  you  deserted  and  forsaken? — in  the 
hour  of  his  extremity  all  his  disciples  forsook  him  and  fled. 
Are  you  reviled  and  reproached? — he  was  reviled  as  a 
"  gluttonous  man  and  a  wine-bibber ;  a  friend  of  publicans 
and  sinners."  Are  you  oppressed  ? — see  him  carrying  a 
cross  infinitely  heavier ;  carrying  it  for  you ;  carrying  it 
without  a  groan.  » O !  can  you  reflect  upon  the  extremity 
of  his  woes  ;  upon  the  manner  in  which  he  endured  them  ; 
upon  the  motive  which  induced  him  to  suffer ;  upon  the 
happy  and  glorious  termination  of  his  sorrows  ;  upon  the 
great  and  precious  promises  which  are  given  to  those  who 
suffer  with  him,  and  not  be  inspired  with  cheerfulness, 
thankfulness,  and  resignation  ?  "  Consider  him  that  en- 
dured such  contradiction  of  sinners  against  himself,  lest 
you  be  wearied  and  faint  in  your  minds." 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


87 


Consider  the  brevity  of  your  affliction.  That  misery  is 
indeed  insufferable,  that  burden  oppressive,  that  pang 
severe,  upon  which  the  awful  character  of  eternity  is 
impressed.  Ah!  who  can  tell  what  is  meant  by  a  grief 
which  shall  never  end — a  burden  that  shall  never  be 
removed — sighs  that  must  for  ever  breathe — tears  that 
must  for  ever  flow  ?  Yet  this  is  the  aflliction,  this  is  the 
sorrow,  of  the  world ;  for  what  have  they  to  cheer  their 
drooping  spirits,  to  sustain  them  beneath  the  pressure  of 
their  woes  ?  If  the  day  be  stormy,  have  they  a  sun  to 
gild  the  evening  hour  ?  and  if  tears  have  been  their  food 
through  life,  will  they  cease  to  flow  at  death  ?  No  !  they 
have  no  hand  to  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes — no 
light  to  chase  away  the  gloom ;  but  death  absorbs  every 
ray  of  hope  which,  in  happier  days,  might  have  gleamed, 
at  intervals,  upon  the  scene,  and  plunges  them  into  a  mid- 
night of  black  and  unmingled  despair.  But  the  duration 
of  a  Christian's  woes,  the  Bible  assures  us,  is  limited  to 
time,  while  the  prospect  of  his  joy  is  boundless  as  eternity. 
Yes,  O  believer !  there  is  hope  in  thine  end ;  a  hope  that 
cannot  make  ashamed.  Thy  release  from  sorrow  is  as 
sure  as  the  purpose,  the  covenant,  the  oath  of  God  can 
make  it.  That  end  too  is  near ;  "  for  yet  a  little  while, 
and  he  that  shall  come  will  come,  and  will  not  tarry."  If 
your  days  be  evil,  yet  they  be  few  in  number ;  if  the  road 
you  travel  be  rugged  and  uneven,  you  shall  soon  arrive  at 
your  journey's  end  :  if  your  voyage  be  beset  with  tempests, 
you  have  got  the  haven  at  least  in  view  ;  if  the  conflict  be 
severe,  its  very  severity  will  accelerate  its  termination — 

"  The  rougher  the  blast,  the  sooner  'tis  past; 
The  tempests  that  rise 
Will  gloriously  hurry  your  soul  to  the  skies ;" 

if  the  burden  be  oppressive,  you  shall  presently  be  permitted 
to  lay  it  down  honorably,  to  take  it  up  no  more  for  ever ; 


88 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


if  your  present  existence  be  full  of  weariness  and  sorrow, 
the  issue  must  bo  well,  and  the  consummation  glorious. 
When  a  few  years  are  come,  you  will  go  the  way  of  all 
flesh,  and  then,  all  that  disquiets,  or  distresses  you,  will  be 
thrown  among  the  old  things  that  shall  be  passed  away  to 
be  no  more  seen.  It  may  be  much  less.  Perhaps  a  few 
months,  a  few  weeks,  a  few  days  more,  and  all  will  be 
peace,  quietness,  and  assurance  for  ever.  Were  you 
doomed  for  thousands,  or  even  for  hundreds,  of  years,  to 
dwell  in  a  body  of  death,  and  in  a  world  of  danger,  the 
melancholy  prospect  might  well  inspire  despondency ; 
but,  blessed  be  God!  it  is  otherwise  determined.  The 
language  of  Scripture  on  this  subject  is  remarkable,  and 
calculated  to  encourage  us.  It  doth  not  speak  of  the 
saint's  sufferings  by  using  the  words  ages,  years,  or  even 
months,  lest  such  terms  should  bring  darkness  upon  our 
minds  ;  we  read  of  a  day  of  adversity,  a  night  of  affliction, 
an  hour  of  temptation,  a  moment — a  short  moment — of 
distress :  be  patient,  then,  till  the  hour  of  release  shall 
arrive.  Would  it  not  be  strange  for  a  peasant  to  murmur 
at  the  inconveniences  of  his  poor,  straw-thatched  cottage, 
if  to-morrow  he  were  to  exchange  it  for  a  mansion  ?  What 
can  be  more  certain  than  the  speedy  and  blessed  end  of 
affliction  to  those  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus  ?  Therefore,  the 
humble  believer,  while  all  things  are  withering  around  him, 
may  sing  in  his  pilgrimage, — 


"  A  little  while,  and  then  my  race  is  run, 
My  toils  are  ended,  and  my  conflicts  done; 
For,  looking  in  the  glass  from  day  to  day, 
I  seem  to  trace  the  progress  of  decay, 
That  slowly  wears  this  mortal  frame  away ; 
And,  (though  not  unrefresh'd  by  sjicred  song, 
Murmur'd  by  angel  hosts  that  round  me  throng,) 
Here  on  life's  rugged  path  we  creep  along ; 


COMFORT  IN   AFFLICTION. 

Feeble  and  faint,  alone  and  friendless  too, 
A  weary  traveler,  but  with  home  in  view. 
Then  welcome  trial,  whatever  may  befall, 
That  home  will  more  than  make  amends  for  all ; 
And  with  the  sweet  assurance  it  is  mine, 
Let  but  some  glimmering  of  its  glory  shine 
On  my  rough  road,  and  I  will  not  repine : 
But,  with  the  everlasting  arms  beneath, 
Still  struggle  forward  with  my  latest  breath; 
When  weak,  then  strong  to  conquer  hell  and  death ; 
For  He  that  hath  redeem'd  me  with  his  blood 
Sliall  set  me  safe  before  the  tlux)ne  of  God." 


89 


Consider,  also,  the  glorious  termination  of  affliction.  0 
Christian !  fix  your  attention  on  the  prospect  before  you. 
It  is  through  "  much  tribulation  you  must  enter  the  king- 
dom ;"  but  an  entrance  there  will  abundantly  compensate 
for  all :  and  what  can  prevent  your  entrance  there,  if  you 
continue  steadfast  in  your  determination  to  glorify  God  ? 
Fix  your  eye,  therefore,  on  the  promised  recompense  of 
reward ;  contrast  the  present  with  the  future ;  what  you 
now  endure,  with  what  you  shall  hereafter  enjoy :  think 
how  little  the  one,  how  great  the  other;  how  short  the 
one,  how  lasting  the  other.  Endeavor  to  estimate  the 
salvation  that  is  to  be  revealed:  take  its  dimensions; 
survey  it  in  the  length  and  breadth  thereof ;  employ  the 
telescope  of  Scripture,  and  the  eye  of  faith.  It  stretches 
out  beyond  the  most  enlarged  conceptions.  If  the  sum 
total  of  worldly  bliss  were  to  become  the  possession  of  one 
man,  and  were  all  concentrated  in  his  experience,  that  man 
would  be  poor,  abject,  and  miserable,  in  comparison  of 
him  who  holds  the  lowest  place  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 
It  is  nothing  less  than  "  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory.'*  What  a  delightful  termination  of  a  few 
years  of  transitory  suffering!  "  What  thoughts,"  said  one 
of  the  martyrs,  "  shall  we  have  of  the  sufferings  of  this 


90 


COMFORT  IN    AFFLICTION. 


life,  when  we  have  reigned  with  Christ  a  thousand  years 
in  heavenly  glory  ?"  It  is  easy  to  imagine  what  thoughts 
we  shall  then  have ;  but  ought  not  such  thoughts  to  occupy 
our  minds  now  ?  "  I  reckon,"  said  the  apostle  Paul,  "  that  the 
sufferings  of  the  present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared 
with  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed  in  us."  And  of  the 
primitive  Christians  it  is  said,  that  they  had  such  joyous 
anticipations  of  paradise,  and  their  minds  were  so  intently 
fixed  upon  its  glories,  that  they  could  scarcely  think  or 
speak  of  anything  else.  The  kingdom!  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  was  so  much  the  subject  of  their  converse,  that  it 
became  the  occasion  of  misrepresentation,  suspicion,  and 
accusation ;  and  many  of  them  were,  in  consequence, 
charged  with  treasonable  designs  against  the  government. 
They  were  accustomed  to  regard  every  day  spent  on  earth 
as  a  day  lost  in  heaven ;  and  so  eager  were  their  desires 
of  future  glory,  that  many,  for  its  sake,  even  coveted  martyr- 
dom itself.  "  Being  inflamed,"  saith  Justin  Martyr,  "  with 
the  desire  of  a  pure  and  celestial  life,  we  breathe  after  an 
intimate  converse  with  God,  the  great  parent  and  creator 
of  the  world,  and  make  haste  to  seal  our  confession  with 
our  blood."  Reader,  if  the  grace  of  God  hath  made  thee 
a  partaker  of  the  hope  of  heaven,  draw  comfort  from  that 
hope ;  anticipate  that  heaven ;  dayly  cherish  the  thought 
of  its  felicities,  and  set  them  against  the  trials  you  are 
called  to  endure.  They  are  real ;  they  are  near  ;  they  are 
yours.  Does  the  sailor,  tossed  by  storms,  long  once  more 
to  reach  his  home  ?  Does  the  sick  man  desire  health, 
the  prisoner  liberty,  the  condemned  criminal  a  pardon  ? 
and  should  not  you  desire  heaven  as  the  termination  of  a 
tedious  voyage — as  a  deliverance  from  disease,  and  bond- 
age, and  suffering  ?  Live,  therefore,  with  the  prospect  of 
heaven  ever  in  your  sight;  endeavor  to  catch  a  nearer 
view  of  its  glories,  to  form  a  clear  comprehension  of  its 


COMFORT  IN  AFFLICTION. 


91 


bliss,  to  acquire  more  and  more  of  a  holy  abstractedness 
from  earthly  entanglements  and  cares,  and  of  preparation 
for  celestial  occupations  and  enjoyments ;  elevate  the  eye 
of  your  faith  to  the  blessed  and  important  hour  when  you 
shall  enter  triumphant  into  the  realms  of  bliss,  and  shall 
receive  the  crown  of  glory  from  the  hands  of  an  applauding 
Saviour.  So  shall  the  prospect  repress  the  sigh  of  sorrow, 
dry  up  the  tear  of  grief,  and  cause  you  to  rejoice  in  hope 
of  the  glory  of  God. 


92 


RESULTS   OF   SANCTIFIED   AFFLICTION. 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


93 


THE  BLESSED  RESULTS   OF  SANCTIFIED 

AFFLICTION. 

How  gracious  and  how  wise 

Is  our  chastising  God  ! 
And,  O  how  rich  the  blessings  are 

That  blossom  from  his  rod ! 

He  lifts  it  up  on  high, 

With  pity  in  his  heart ; 
That  every  stroke  his  children  feel 
*  May  life  and  peace  impart. 

Dear  Father,  we  consent 

To  discipline  divine, 
And  bless  the  pangs  that  make  our  soul 

Still  more  completely  tliiue. 

••  NOW  NO  CHASTENING  FOR  THE  PRESENT  SEEMETH  TO  BE  JOYOUS, 
BUT  GRIEVOUS:  NEVERTHELESS,  AFTERWARD.  IT  YIELDETH  THE 
PEACEABLE  FRUIT  OF  RIGHTEOUSNESS  UNTO  THEM  WHICH  ARE  EXER- 
CISED  THEREBY."— Hcb.  xii,  II. 

Philosophers  have  frequently  remarked  what  they 
have  called  the  doctrine  of  compensation ;  by  which  they 
mean,  that  tendency  there  is  in  nature  to  keep  all  things 
on  a  kind  of  equality,  so  that,  while,  on  the  one  hand, 
there  are  defects  to  counterbalance  advantages,  there  are, 
on  the  other,  advantages  to  counterbalance  defects.  The 
remark  is  applicable,  not  only  to  the  natural,  but  also  to 
the  religious  life  of  man ;  and  if,  as  a  Christian,  he  be 
subject  to  tribulation ;  if  events  be  perpetually  arising  to 
remind  him  that  this  is  not  his  rest ;  if,  in  his  progress  to 
eternal  life,  he  finds  himself  opposed,  and  tempted,  and 
tried,  yet  his  heavenly  Father  hath  ordained  that  "  tribu- 
lation shall  work  patience  ;  and  patience,  experience  ;  and 
experience,  hope;  and  hope  that  maketh  not  ashamed, 
because  the  love  of  God  is  shed  abroad  in  his  heart ;"  and 


his  afflictions  though  for  the  present  are  not  joyous,  but 
grievous,  shall  contribute  to  the  gradual  improvement,  and 
ultimate  perfection,  of  his  moral  character.     Were  we  to 
view  affliction  by  itself,  and  without  reference  to  its  results, 
it  would  necessarily  appear  a  very  dark  and  mysterious 
part  of  divine  providence.     Physical  evil,  apart  from  its 
moral  uses,  cannot  be  an  object  of  pleasing  contemplation 
to  any  rational  being  in  the  universe ;  but,  in  connection 
with  these  uses,  it  may  be  one  of  the  brightest  manifesta- 
tions of  God's  wisdom,  and  one  of  the  clearest  proofs  of 
his  comprehensive  benevolence.     God  visits  us  with  afliic- 
tion,  that  "  by  the  sadness  of  the  countenance  the  heart 
may  be  made  better ;"  and,  just  in  proportion  as  moral 
improvement  ^nd  perfection  are  superior  to  sensual  enjoy- 
ment and  worldly  prosperity,  in  the  same  proportion  ought 
our  gratitude  for  the  benefits  c(|^erred  to  exceed  our  sor- 
row for  the  sufiering  inflicted.     And  when  God  becomes 
so  great  in  our  eyes,  and  all  created  things  so  little,  that 
we  reckon  nothing  as  worthy  of  our  aim  and  ambition  but 
a  participation  of  the  divine  nature;  and  the  exercise  of 
divine  virtues— love,  joy,  peace,  long-sufTering,  kindness, 
goodness,  and  the  like — as  forming  the  true  felicity  and 
dignity  of  man ;  then  shall  we  be  prepared  to  value  what- 
ever promotes  this  end,  however  painful  it  may  be  in  itself. 
That  the  general  design  of  all  the  afllictions  with  which 
any  of  God's  people  are  visited  is  their  progressive  sancti- 
fication  and  final  perfection,  is  evident  from  the  whole 
scope  and  tenor  of  Scripture ;  and  that  it  is  not  only  a 
sovereign,  but  a  suitable  remedy,  and  every  way  adapted 
to  accomplish  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  intended,  is 
demonstrated  by  the   experience  of  all  who  have  been 
exercised  thereby.     This  will  be  rendered  apparent  by  an 
examination  of  some    of  the    advantages  resulting  from 
sanctified  afiliction  to  those  who  are  the  subjects  of  divine 
grace.     Among  these  is, 


"   IJ 


94 


RESULTS    OF    SANCTIFIED   AFFLICTION. 


The  discovery  of  unsuspected  sin.  It  is  by  gradual,  and 
often  by  slow,  advances  that  the  Christian  becomes 
acquainted  with  the  hidden  corruptions  of  his  heart.  The 
first  discoveries  of  sin  relate  more  to  the  transgressions 
of  his  past  life  than  to  the  sin  that  dwells  within  him  ;  and 
often,  for  a  long  time,  much  of  this  remains  concealed  and 
unsuspected,  until  the  awakening  influence  of  aflliction 
calls  it  forth.  Next  to  the  direct  teaching  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  nothing  so  eflfectually  develops  the  deceitfulness 
and  iniquity  of  the  heart,  as  that  change  of  circumstances 
which  calls  forth  latent  energies,  unveils  deceptions,  and 
makes  our  principles  distinct  and  prominent.  It  is  with 
the  view,  therefore,  of  stirring  up  the  hidden  mass  of  pol- 
lution that  is  concealed  in  the  deep  recesses  of  our  hearts, 
that  afliiction  is,  in  many  cases,  appointed.  God  needs 
not  the  experiment  for  hi^nformation  ;  no  part  of  our  cor- 
ruption is  hid  from  the  eye  of  the  heart-searching  God 
with  whom  we  have  to  do.  He  sees  it  in  its  various 
hiding-places.  That  is  a  remarkable  passage  in  Jeremiah, 
"  The  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  desperately 
wicked  ;  who  can  know  it  ?  I,  the  Lord,  search  the  heart, 
and  try  the  reins,  even  to  give  to  every  man  according  to 
his  ways,  and  according  to  the  fruit  of  his  doings."  But 
the  evil  must  be  disclosed  to  ourselves.  The  remaining 
pride,  and  unbelief,  and  sloth,  and  carnality,  which  exist 
within  us,  must  be  laid  open  and  exposed.  Now,  how  is 
all  this  to  be  done,  but  by  appropriate  discipline — such  dis- 
cipline as  God  sees  proper  to  employ  ?  He  superintends 
every  part  of  our  spiritual  education  ;  and  though  he  loves 
us  with  more  than  a  father's  heart,  yet  he  cannot  withhold 
what  he  sees  to  be  necessary  for  our  good.  Knowing,  as 
he  does,  that  sin  is  the  chief  hinderance  to  the  peace  of 
his  people,  and  that,  consistently  with  the  righteousness 
of  his  government,  he  can  only  make  them  happy  by 
making  them  holy,  it  is  in  the  very  faithfulness  of  his  love, 


RESULTS  OF  SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


95 


and  in  the  tenderness  of  his  solicitude,  that  he  endeavors  to 
unveil,  though  by  the  stern  hand  of  affliction,  the  evils  which 
excite  his  displeasure,  and  the  operation  of  which  must 
necessarily  tend  to  retard  their  spiritual  growth,  and  en- 
danger their  final  salvation.     Would  he  act  consistently 
with  his  spiritual  character  were  he  to   do  otherwise? 
Had  you  a  beloved  child,  in  whom  you  observed  the  deve- 
lopment of  some  wayward  temper,  or  indications  of  some 
vicious  propensity,  which  would  be  most  in  unison  with 
parental  affection,  to  allow  the  sinful  propensity  to  spread 
unchecked,  until  it  involved  him  in  remediless  misery,  or 
to  chasten  and  correct  the  child,  and  thus  eradicate  the 
root  of  bitterness  ere  it  attained  unconquerable  strength  and 
vigor?     And  when  God  sees  in  his  people  some  sinful 
passion,  some  hidden  corruption,  unsuspected   by  them, 
would  he  act  the  part  of  a  fathor,  did  he  not  interpose  his 
authority,  and  assume  the  firm  tone  of  paternal  rebuke  ? 
Could  he  be  the  God  of  love  to  us,  and  allow  it  to  spread 
its  baneful  influence  unchecked?     When  he  sees  some 
poisonous  plant  shooting  up  in  his  garden,  ought  he  to 
leave  it  there  to  vegetate  until  it  brings  forth  fruit  unto 
death ;  or  tear  it  up  by  the  roots,  though,  in  doing  so,  the 
fibres  of  the  heart,  round  which  it  had  twined  itself,  should 
be  made  to  bleed  at  every  pore  ?     When  he  detects  some 
leprous  spot  on  the  soul  which  we  cannot  see,  ought  he 
to  permit  it  to  spread  until  it  hath  infected  the  whole  spirit- 
ual frame  ;  or  cut  it  out,  though,  in  doing  so,  he  must  inflict 
the  most  exquisite  pain  ?     When  he  sees  the  existence  of 
dross,  which  mars  the  beauty  of  our  character,  and  prevents 
us  from  reflecting,  with  purity  and  splendor,  the  glories  of 
his  own  image,  ought  he  to  allow  it  to  remain,  or  subject 
us  to  the  operation  of  the  furnace,  though,  in  doing  so,  he 
may  occasion  the  destruction  of  some  darling  scheme  or 
enjoyment  ?     Can  you  hesitate  for  a  moment  in  determin- 
ing which  God  should  do  ?     Such  is  the  benevolent  pur- 


96 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


RESULTS   OF   SANCTIFIED   AFFLICTION. 


97 


pose  for  which  affliction  is  employed.  Its  operation  may 
be  painful  for  the  present,  but  the  motive  is  gracious,  and 
the  result  is  most  beneficial. 

In  our  attempts  to  do  good,  and  to  promote  the  interests 
of  Zion,  we  have  perhaps  enjoyed,  in  a  high  degree,  the 
confidence   and   esteem   of  others,   until,   by   insensible 
degrees,  we  have  become  proud  of  our  reputation  ;  it  hath 
become  an  occasion  of  self-complacency,  and  we  have 
ceased  to  give  glory  to  God,  who  alone  maketh  us  to  differ. 
What  is  to  be  done  ?     To  check  this  over-weening  tend- 
ency, some  Shimei  is  permitted  to  curse  us,  and  make  us 
vile  in  the  sight  of  others.     Our  enemies  may  not  speak 
the  truth,  but  they  may  serve  to  remind  us  of  it,  and  the 
poignancy  of  our  sufferings  under  their  false  aspersions 
may  discover  to  us,  what  before  we  were  ignorant  of,  how 
proud  we   have   been   of  our  character   and   reputation. 
Or,  perhaps,  we  have  been  indulged  with  a  long  course 
of  temporal  prosperity,  until  the  dross  of  worldliness  has 
begun  to  incrust  and  sully  the   purity  of  our  Christian 
character.     We  have  become  elated  by  our  possessions ; 
have  lost  much  of  the  simplicity  of  our  former  aims,  in  an 
anxious  attention  to  matters  of  mere  worldly  consideration  ; 
a  spirit  of  display  in  dress,  in  furniture,  in  entertainments, 
has  begun  to  indicate  an  attachment  to  the  pomps  and  vani- 
ties of  this  life  ;  yet  the  secret  is  hid  from  us  by  a  sophistry 
which  we  are  not  disposed  to  scrutinize  or  unravel.     What 
is  to  be  done  ?     Affliction  must  make  known  the  evil ;  our 
property  must  be  blighted  ;  the  objects  of  our  vanity  must 
be  wrested  from  us,  or  turned  into  occasions  of  humiliation 
and  sorrow  ;  and  when  the  gracious  purposes  of  God's  love 
are  accomplished  ;  when  the  hidden  chambers  of  imagery 
have  been  diligently  searched  with  the  candle  of  the  Lord, 
and  all  their  long-neglected  and  accumulated  defilements 
brought  to  light  and  swept  away;  when  the  plague-spot 
has  been  cut  out,  and  the  spiritual  system  is  restored  to 


health  and  soundness  ;  when  the  idol  has  been  cast  down, 
and  God  reigns  in  unrivaled  sovereignty  in  the  heart ;  when 
the  sullying  dross  of  worldliness  has  been  purged  away,  and 
the  Redeemer's  image  is  seen  reflected,  with  beautiful 
distinctness,  in  the  purified  soul;  then,  however  painful 
may  be  the  affliction  by  which  these  beneficial  results  have 
been  effected,  how  strikingly  does  it  display  both  the  wis- 
dom and  the  goodness  of  God !  And  where  is  the  individual, 
whose  afflictions  have  been  thus  sanctified,  that  can  fail  to 
look  back  on  the  most  painful  of  them  all,  not  only  without 
one  sentiment  of  rebellious  regret,  but  with  the  deepest 
emotions  of  gratitude  and  admiration,  or  that  will  cease  to 
regard  it  as  one  of  the  most  powerful  instruments  of  good 
in  the  hands  of  his  heavenly  Father,  and  one  of  the  most 
precious  privileges  of  his  people  ? 

Communion  with  God.     This  is  one  of  the  most  exalted 
privileges  of  the  Christian,  and  furnishes  an  astonishing 
display  of  the   condescension  of  Jehovah.     "  Truly  our 
fellowship,"  says  an  apostle,  "  is  with  the  Father,  and  with 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ."     What  a  stupendous  thought !  the 
infinite,    the   eternal,  the  incomprehensible  Jehovah,  the 
high  and  lofty  One  that  inhabiteth  the  praises  of  eternity, 
deigns  to  admit  man,  feeble  and  unworthy  man,  to  com- 
munion with  himself!     To  say  that  this  communion  in- 
volves no  mystery,  would  be  to  oppose  the  direct  testi- 
mony of  Scripture ;  and  to  reject  this  truth,  because  it  is 
mysterious,  would  be  as  absurd  as  to  deny  that  in  God  we 
live,  and  move,  and  have  our  being,  because  we  do  not 
perceive,  and  cannot  comprehend,  the  mode  of  our  ex- 
istence in  him.      Communion  with  God,  however  inex- 
plicable in  its  nature,  discovers  its  reality  by  its  effect. 
This  effect  is  a  holy  love  occupying  the  heart,  and  regu- 
lating all  its  affections  and  desires.     It  is  directed  to  God 
as  able  to  satisfy  its  intense  and  boundless  longings  after 
bliss.     It  delights  to  dwell  on  his  character,  to  converse 


rr,' 


98 


RESULTS  OF  SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


99 


with  him  through  the  medium  of  his  works  and  word ;  it 
rejoices  in  submission  to  his  will ;  it  relies  with  confidence 
on  his  strength ;  it  trusts  implicitly  in  his  promises  ;  it 
longs  to  be  the  humble  but  cheerful  instrument  of  carrying 
into  effect,  within  its  own  limited  sphere  of  action,  the 
purposes  of  his  wisdom  and  grace.  The  believer,  under 
the  influence  of  this  love,  often  soars  to  heaven  on  the 
wings  of  delightful  contemplation,  and  becomes  absorbed 
in  the  view  of  the  riches  of  the  goodness  of  God  through  a 
crucified  Redeemer.  He  is  lost  in  holy  admiration  of  the 
wisdom  and  love  displayed  in  the  great  scheme  of  redemp- 
tion. He  remembers,  too,  by  what  a  price  he  was  bought, 
and  by  whom  it  was  paid  ;  and,  actuated  by  fervent  grati- 
tude, he  exclaims, 

"  Were  the  whole  realm  of  nature  mine, 
That  were  a  gift  by  far  too  small ; 
Love  so  amazing,  so  divine, 

Demands  my  life,  my  soul,  my  all." 

Jesus  appears  to  him  to  be  the  chief  among  ten  thousand, 
and  "  altogether  lovely."  Christ  dwells  in  his  heart  by 
faith,  and  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  his  unceasing 
prayer  and  endeavor  is,  to  be  enabled  *'  to  comprehend 
with  all  saints,  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length,  and  depth, 
and  height,  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ,  which  passeth 
knowledge,  that  he  may  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of 
God."  Such  is  the  result  of  fellowship  with  God,  when 
duly  cherished  and  maintained.  It  is  the  principle,  the 
very  heart's  blood,  of  the  believer's  spiritual  life,  nourish- 
ing and  animating  the  whole  process  of  his  growth  in  grace. 
It  beats  in  every  pious  breast.  But  its  impulse  is  often 
checked,  and  sometimes  altogether  suspended,  by  remain- 
ing corruption,  and  the  influence  of  temptation.  The  dan- 
ger of  our  present  condition  consists  chiefly  in  our  affec- 
tions being  estranged  from  God,  and  given  to  the  creature  ; 


and  in  our  tendency  to  forsake  the  fountain  of  living  waters, 
and  to  hew  out  to  ourselves  cisterns,  broken  cisterns,  which 
can  hold  no  water.     The  connection  between  attachment  to 
the  creature  and  alienation  from  God  is  so  intimate  and 
sure,  that  the  one  infallibly  follows  the  other.     Now,  when 
the  affections  thus  begin  to  wander,  and  the  creature  inter- 
poses to  interrupt  our   communion   with   himself,  God's 
method  of  recovering  us  is  either  by  removing  the  favorite 
object  from  our  reach,  or  smiting  it  with  a  curse.     In  one 
way  or  other  he  shatters  our  favorite  cistern,  with  the  view 
of  recalling  our  thoughts  and  affections  to  himself,  as  our 
chief  good  and  satisfying  portion.      Thus,  for  example, 
a  man  of  ardent  affection  has  allowed  his  heart  to  be  es- 
tranged from  God  by  an  undue  attachment  to  the  endeared 
partner   of  his   bosom,   and  the  lovely  pledges  of  their 
mutual  affection  :  though  his  kindness  to  them  is  amiable, 
yet  they  engross  much  of  that  regard  which  belongs  only 
to  God.     Thus  spirituality  has  in  consequence  been  im- 
paired, and  the  exercise  of  communion  with  God  has  been 
in  a  great  measure  absorbed  in  assiduous  attentions  to  the 
creature.     Because  he  will  not  admit  a  rival  in  our  affec- 
tions, God  takes  away  the  desire  of  his  eyes  at  a  stroke  : 
he  is  stunned  by  the  shock  of  bereavement,  but,  perhaps, 
even  this  is  not  enough  ;  the  tendrils  of  his  affections,  thus 
violently  torn  from  one  object,  only  cling  with  greater  per- 
tinacity to  those  that  remain.     These  are  also  smitten  and 
die.     Distressing  is  the  bereavement,  and  desolate,  indeed, 
is  the  heart  of  him  who  is  thus  left  alone  in  a  wilderness 
where  roses  have  encircled  his  path;  but  now,  when  the 
earthly  smile  which  long  had  poured  the  sunshine  of  glad- 
ness around  his  path  is  seen  no  more,  and  the  voice  which 
had  sounded  as  sweet  music  to  his  ears  is  heard  no  longer, 
he  becomes  impressed  with  the  vanity  of  everything  save 
the  enjoyment  of  God,  which  is  his  chief  good.     He  now 
repairs  for  happiness,  exclusively,  to  the  Fountain  of  living 


7 


100 


RESULTS  OF  SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


RESULTS   OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


101 


waters ;  and  thus  he  drinks  more  deeply  than  ever  of  a 
happiness  immeasurably  superior  to  the  sweetest  that  has 
ever  flowed  into  his  soul  through  the  purest  earthly  chan- 
nel. This  example  may  serve  to  show  the  wisdom  and 
goodness  of  God  in  our  afflictions,  and  cannot  fail  to  recall 
to  the  minds  of  some  the  recollection  of  many  incidents 
in  their  past  life,  which  at  the  time  were  felt  to  be  dark  and 
painful,  but  on  which  they  can  now  look  as  the  brightest 
manifestations  of  the  care  and  love  of  their  heavenly  Father. 
They  remember  many  seasons  when  the  spirituality  of 
devotion  and  communion  with  God  was  gradually  yielding 
to  the  encroachment  of  earthly  objects  ;  they  may  remem- 
ber some  one  object  which,  more  than  any  other,  had  in- 
sidiously gained  upon  their  afiections,  and  by  regular  but 
imperceptible  advances  was  dividing  their  heart  with  God  ; 
but  just  at  the  time  when  their  piety  was  degenerating  into 
mere  formality,  and  their  communion  with  God  was  in 
danger  of  being  completely  destroyed,  a  hand  was  suddenly 
put  forth,  which  dashed  the  ensnaring  object  from  its  seat ; 
and,  as  they  wept  over  its  broken  fragments,  they  were 
taught  the  vanity  of  created  good,  and  that  God  would  not 
permit  them  to  seek  their  happiness  in  that  which  was 
unworthy  of  their  nature.  With  what  exquisite  beauty  is 
this  expressed  by  the  prophet  Hosea,  where  God  promises 
his  backsliding  church,  "  I  will  allure  her,  and  bring  her 
into  the  wilderness,  and  speak  comfortably  unto  her,  and 
she  shall  sing  there  as  in  the  days  of  her  youth !"  Can 
that  be  otherwise  than  an  advantage  which  leads  from  the 
scanty  rill  to  the  overflowing  fountain ;  which  raises  the 
soul  from  earth  to  heaven ;  and  leads  to  an  exchange  of 
the  creature  for  the  Creator  ? 

The  growth  and  improvement  of  Christian  graces.  It  is 
not  unlikely  but  that  afl^ictions  may  sometimes  be  sent 
with  an  immediate  view  to  the  cultivation  of  some  particular 
disposition  of  the  mind.     However,  it  is  certain  that  they 


are  always  sent  for  the  Christian's  spiritual  advantage  in 
general ;  an  end  this  which  can  only  be  answered  by  the 
improvement  of  those  particular  graces  which  constitute 
his  Christian  character.  Some  of  these  graces,  there- 
fore, I  shall  particularly  specify.  Affliction  calls  forth  the 
exercise  of 

Faith.  Faith  is  essential  to  the  Christian  character. 
Hence  the  prominent  part  it  bears  in  every  Scriptural 
account  of  Christian  experience  and  duty.  But  how  can 
there  be  faith  when  everything  is  clearly  seen?  Faith, 
we  are  told  by  an  apostle,  is  "  the  substance  of  things 
hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."  When  every- 
thing is  agreeable  to  our  wishes,  when  the  sun  of  prosperity 
irradiates  our  path,  and  earthly  blessings  are  multiplied 
upon  us,  how  much  do  we  live  by  sense !  In  such  cir- 
cumstances the  growth  of  faith,  if  not  altogether  suspend- 
ed, is  certainly  greatly  obstructed.  But  see  the  Christian 
when  trouble  presses  hard  upon  him.  See  him  bereaved 
and  disappointed  ;  reduced  to  poverty,  and  exposed  to  ac- 
cumulated trials :  as  these  are  sanctified,  the  power  of  faith 
is  expanded  and  exercised,  and  the  heavenly  principle  is 
seen  rising  in  splendor  in  proportion  as  his  circumstances 
become  increasingly  gloomy  and  depressed.  In  the  ab- 
sence of  creaturely  dependencies  and  supports,  he  learns 
to  trust  entirely  in  the  Lord,  and  to  leave  himself  wholly 
in  his  hands.  He  walks  in  darkness,  and  perhaps  sees 
no  light ;  but  though  intercepted  in  his  sight,  he  hears  a 
voice  saying,  "  Fear  not."  Faith  listens  to  the  voice,  and 
says, "  It  is  the  Lord,  what  cause  can  I  have  for  fear  ?  His 
wisdom  cannot  err ;  my  circumstances  are  not  such  as  to 
preclude  the  interposition  of  divine  comfort  and  support  : 
whatever  evils  betide  me,  his  promises  remain  faithful." 
Thus,  as  faith  increases,  the  perturbation  of  the  mind  is 
allayed,  and  subsides  into  tranquiUity  and  peace.  Circum- 
stances may  be  what  they  may,  but  all  murmuring  and 


'I 


102 


RESULTS   OF  SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


sorrow  under  them  are  gone.  Events  may  threaten  what 
they  will ;  but  the  anticipative  dread,  and  all  the  gloomy 
images  which  it  conjures  up,  are  done  away.  A  new 
light  breaks  in  upon  the  mind,  and  in  that  light  all  things 
are  beheld  as  new :  for  it  is  not  so  much  according  to  out- 
ward circumstances  that  we  are  happy  or  distressed,  but 
according  to  the  state  of  the  inward  mind.  It  is  not  so 
much  what  we  see,  and  feel,  and  experience,  as  what  we 
believe ;  not  so  much  the  thoughts  which  are  produced  by 
things  around  us,  as  the  ideas  which  predominate  within 
us,  which  constitute  our  real  condition,  and  give  the  tone 
to  our  emotions.  How  many  have  been  led  to  tremble  at 
the  approach  of  trouble,  and  to  exclaim,  "  Ah  !  this  will  be 
too  much  for  me  ;  I  shall  certainly  be  overwhelmed !"  who 
have  afterward  been  compelled  to  look  back  upon  the  trial 
with  surprise  and  shame.  Strengthened  by  the  Spirit's 
might  in  their  inner  man,  supported  and  upheld  by  the  arm 
of  an  almighty  Saviour,  they  have  learned  in  trial  some  of 
the  sweetest  lessons,  and  received  some  of  the  strongest 
demonstrations  of  the  loving-kindness  of  God. 

Patience.  What  has  been  remarked  in  reference  to 
faith  is  not  less  applicable  to  this  grace.  How  is  it  pos- 
sible for  patience  to  exist,  if  there  be  no  difficulties  ?  If 
everything  were  plain  and  easy,  what  opportunity  would  be 
afforded  for  the  display  of  those  virtues  which  so  pre- 
eminently bear  the  impress  of  the  Saviour's  image,  and 
which  form  some  of  the  loveliest  graces — the  finest  fea- 
tures of  the  Christian  character  ?  If  there  were  no  vexa- 
tious annoyances,  no  irritating  provocations,  there  could  be 
no  forbearance  ; — if  there  were  no  suffering,  there  could 
be  no  resignation ; — if  no  delays,  there  could  be  no  sub- 
missive waiting :  now  patience  enters  into  all  these,  and 
it  must  be  confessed,  that  the  Christian  never  looks  more 
lovely,  or  more  impressive,  than  when  he  is  able  to  exer- 
cise it.     See  him   confined   to   his  solitary  chamber  by 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


103 


lingering  disease.     It  is  a  distressing  trial  to  experience 
the  consuming  anguish  of  racking  pain,  or  restless  fever- 
ishness;    of  shattered  nerves  and  sinking  strength;   of 
weary  days  and  sleepless  nights  :  to  be  debarred  from  all 
active  employment  in  the  service  of  the  Master  whom  we 
love  ;  deprived  of  the  endearing  companionship  of  those 
with  whom  we  have  delighted  to  take  sweet  counsel,  and 
walk  to  the  house  of  God  in  company ;  and  denied  the 
"privilege  of  joining  with   the   great  congregation  in  the 
exercise  of  devotion,  and  seeing  our  God  as  we  have  seen 
him  in  the  sanctuary.     Such  a  case  of  affliction  seldom 
fails  to  excite  sympathy  :  those  who  visit  the  sufferer  view 
him  with  commiseration,  and  while  they  pity  his  distress, 
they  feel  thankful  that  his  trial  is  not  theirs  :  but  how  good 
and  gracious  is  the  Lord !  while  he  takes  away  one  bless- 
ing, he  gives  another.     The  sufferer  is  not  so  wretched  as 
might  be  supposed :  he  has  learned  patience  in  his  afflic- 
tion :  he  submits  quietly  to  the  divine  will,  and  calmly 
waits   for   deliverance.     Hear   him   saying,  "Though  I 
mourn,  I  do  not  complain.     I  trust  that  these  sorrows  are 
not  the  inflictions  of  avenging  justice,  but  the  corrections 
of  fatherly  solicitude  ;  and  therefore  '  I  wait  for  the  Lord, 
my  soul  doth  wait.'     I  will  quietly  bear  the  yoke.     I  will 
welcome  the  chastisement.     I  will  search  for  the  benefits 
involved  in  it,  and  wait  the  issue  which  the  Lord  intends." 
How  pleasing  thus  to  see  patience  have  its  perfect  work ! 
But  such  instances  as  these  we  cannot  witness  but  in  the 
house  of  affliction.     Such  an  example  of  the  excellence 
of  religion  could  hot  be  displayed,  if  there  were  no  trials. 
But  for  these,  what  a  wide  field  of  glory  would  be  lost  to 

the  moral  world ! 

Humility.  This  is  one  of  the  principal  of  Christian 
graces,  and  enters  so  essentially  into  the  Christian  cha- 
racter, that  without  it  religion  cannot  exist ;  and  to  promote 
its  growth,  and  to  yield  to  its  influence,  is  a  principal  part 


104 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


of  true  wisdom.    Divine  revelation  assigns  to  it  the  highest 
place — gives  it  a  pre-eminence  among  the  graces  of  pietv — 
bestoves  upon  it  the  greatest  commendations — enforces  it 
by  the  most  powerful  motives — encourages  it  by  the  richest 
promises — draws  it  into  exercise  by  the  most   splendid 
examples — and  represents  it  as  the  brightest  jewel  in  the 
Christian's  crown.     The  more  we  study  that  blessed  book, 
the  more  shall  we  learn,  from  almost  every  line,  that  hu- 
mility is  the  Alpha  and  Omega  of  a  sinner's  faith  and 
hope — the  commencing  and  the   crowning  grace.     The 
foundation  of  the  whole  Christian  superstructure  of  hope 
and  holiness  is  laid  in  deep  humility :  the  building  itself 
is  a  beautiful  fabric  of  humility,  and  all  the  decorations  by 
which  it  is  ornamented  are  all  the  emblems  of  humility. 
Yet  this  is  a  temper  not  easily  attained.     Man  is  naturally 
proud,  and  the  more  he  has,  the  more  he  is  exposed  to 
danger.     Thus  his  form,  his  dress,  his  talents,  his  wealth, 
his  honors,  his  connections,  often  become  fuel  to  feed  his 
pride.     But  affliction  stains  his  glory,  and  by  discovering 
to  him  his  insignificance  and  frailty,  tends  to  mortify  and 
to  humble  him.     By  long  usage,  affliction  has  been  spoken 
of  as  a  school — a  school  of  salutary  discipline — a  school 
of  divine  institution,  for  teaching  Christian  holiness,  and 
training  up  the  children  of  God  for  their  inheritance  in 
heaven.     In  this  school  the  lessons  are  accompanied  by 
experiments,  and  the  great  Teacher  says,  by  facts  as  well 
as  by  words,  "  There,  see  what  little  reason  you  have  to 
be  proud  and  lifted  up !    What  is  heajth,  or  beauty,  or 
talent,  or  prosperity  ?  all  are  fragile  and  uncertain ;  they 
furnish  nothing  on  which  you  can  either  safely  rely,  or 
justly  boast."    These  instructions  appeal  to  the  conscience 
as  well  as  to  the  understanding.     They  produce  a  silence 
in  the  mind— a  solemnity  of  soul— a  softness  of  heart,  that 
prepares  us  to  receive  divine  impressions,  and  that  hum- 
bles and  abases  the  heart  before  God.     How  self- abased 


RESULTS   OF   SANCTIFIED    AFFLICTION, 


105 


has  the  Christian  felt  while  God  has  in  this  way  shown 
him  the  depravity  of  his  heart — stripped  him  of  the  objects 
of  which  he  was  once  elated,  or  turned  his  glory  into 
shame  I  Here,  then,  we  learn  the  benefit  of  affliction  ;  for 
surely  that  is  a  benefit  of  the  highest  order  which  makes 
us  humble,  since  it  is  only  in  such  a  state  we  can  be  truly 
happy.  It  is  an  apparent  paradox,  though  perfectly  intel- 
ligible to  every  Christian,  that  humility  is  the  foundation 
and  fountain  of  all  his  most  precious  hopes,  and  joys,  and 
consolations ; — that  the  lower  he  sinks  in  the  depths  of 
self-abasement,  the  higher  he  rises  in  the  exercise  of 
Christian  hope ; — the  profounder  his  convictions  of  his 
own  nothingness,  the  sweeter  and  more  abundant  are  his 
spiritual  joys  ; — and  it  is  when  he  most  fully  feels,  and 
most  freely  confesses, 

"  I  nothing  have,  I  nothing  am, 
Excluded  is  my  every  boast, 

My  glory  swallow'd  up  in  shame ;" 

it  is  then  that  he  most  fully  feels,  and  rejoicingly  exults 
in  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Pray  erf ulness.  A  Christian  is  always  a  praying  man. 
Prayer  is  an  exercise  prized  highly  by  his  enlightened 
judgment,  and  so  enjoyed,  in  many  an  hour  of  secret  com- 
munion with  his  God,  that  he  would  deem  the  wealth  of 
ten  thousand  worlds  a  poor  equivalent  for  the  pure  and 
satisfying  pleasures  which  it  yields  ;  but,  alas  !  how  often, 
notwithstanding,  has  he  to  lament  over  the  coldness  of  his 
heart,  and  to  exclaim  in  the  language  of  the  amiable  poet 
of  Christianity, 

"  What  various  hinderances  we  meet, 
In  coming  to  tlie  mercywseat !" 

How  often  does  he  feel  astonished  to  discover  in  himself 
a  strange  reluctance  to  engage  in  this  sacred  exercise ; 
and  how  often  do  formality  and  listlessness,  a  distracted 


106 


RESULTS   OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


mind  and  a  wandering  heart,  mark,  or  rather  mar,  the  per- 
formance !  Frequently  is  affliction  rendered  necessary  to 
rouse  his  energies,  and  to  excite  him  to  fervor.  This  is 
what  God  proposes  by  the  trials  he  appoints :  he  designs 
to  bring  us  nearer  to  himself ;  to  quicken  us  to  pray — to 
pray  more  frequently,  more  earnestly.  "  I  will  go  »nd 
return  to  my  place,  till  they  acknowledge  their  offense, 
and  seek  my  face.  In  their  affliction  they  will  seek  me 
early."  A  man  under  sanctified  affliction  will  not  pray 
carelessly,  but  "  continue  instant  in  prayer."  He  will  say, 
with  Jacob,  "  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me." 
Thus  Paul,  in  his  distress,  besought  the  Lord  thrice  ;  and 
our  Saviour,  in  his  agony,  prayed  three  times,  saying  the 
same  words.  And  how  many  among  ourselves  can  testify, 
that  while  they  were  prosperous  the  spirit  of  devotion  lan- 
guished in  their  hearts  ;  they  lost,  in  a  great  measure,  their 
relish  for  the  exercise  of  prayer,  and  were  sliding  into  a 
state  of  cold  formality ;  nor  did  they,  although  visited 
occasionally  with  misgivings,  discover  the  sad  extent  of 
their  spiritual  declension,  until  affliction  forced  the  convic- 
tion upon  them !  This  it  was  which  roused  the  dying 
embers  in  their  hearts ;  this  excited  them  to  earnestness 
and  importunity ;  this  caused  them  to  pour  out  their  soul 
with  stronjr  cries  and  tears  unto  God  :  and  such  was  tho 
blessedness  which  they  then  enjoyed  in  communion  with 
their  heavenly  Father,  and  such  the  elevating  and  sancti- 
fying effect  of  earnest  prayer,  that  in  these  advantages 
alone  they  have  found  a  rich  compensation  for  all  the 
afflictions  they  had  been  made  to  endure. 

Equally  useful  is  affliction  in  promoting  heavenly -mind- 
edness.  A  mind  habitually  impressed  with  the  solemn 
realities  of  an  eternal  state — raised  above  the  world  in 
holy  aspirations  after  a  better  and  more  abiding  portion — 
seeking  to  disentangle  itself  from  every  tie  which  would 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


107 


improperly  bind  it  down  to  earth,   or  retard  its  spiritual 
progress  in  a  course  of  preparation  for  heaven,  is  one  of 
the  characteristics  which  distinguish  the  genuine  Chris- 
tian.    Such  a  state  of  mind  is  not,  however,  maintained 
without  difficulty,  nor  is  it  always  displayed  with  equal 
clearness  and  decision.     There  are  few  but  what  have  to 
complain  with  the   Psalmist,   "  My  soul  cleaveth  to  the 
dust ;"  and  especially  when  they  have  been  long  indulged 
with  prosperity.     Alas  !  how  difficult  is  it  to  live  in  \he 
world  without  the  world  living  in  us  !   to  enjoy  its  bless- 
ings without  committing  the  error  of  the  bewildered  dis- 
ciple, "  Lord,  it  is  good  for  us  to  be  here  ;  let  us  build 
tabernacles  !"    Here  how  often  is  affliction  rendered  neces- 
sary to  aid  our  weakness—to  stir  up  our  nest— and  to 
direct  our  thoughts   more  frequently  and  fervently  to  the 
happiness   of  heaven !    Was  it  not  when  the  dove  could 
find  no  resting-place  for  the  sole  of  her  foot  amidst  the 
wilderness  of  waters,  that  she  thought  of  returning  to  the 
ark  ?  and  when  the  deep  floods  of  affliction  have  spread  them- 
selves over  our  favorite  resting-places,  and  we  are  driven 
away  from  the  objects  in  which  we  delighted,  then  are  we 
constrained,  by  a  happy  necessity,  to  turn  to  the  heavenly 
ark,  and  made  to  rejoice  in  our  security  and  peace.     Now 
if  we  glance  at  some  of  the  chief  afflictions  with  which  we 
are  liable  to  be  visited,  we  shall  see  that  they  have  all  a 
direct  tendency  to  draw  our  thoughts  and  desires  heaven- 
ward, and  the  more  there  is  of  heaven  in  our  thoughts,  the 
more  there  will  be  of  heaven  in  our  tempers,  conversation, 
and  character ;  and  if,  from  our  thoughts  and  affections 
being  thus  attracted  heavenward,  our  character  begins  to 
assume  a  more  heavenly  cast,  and  our  conversation  a  more 
heavenly  tone,  ought  we  not  to  bless  God,  and  to  rejoice 
in  tribulation? 

Affliction  contributes  to  usefulness.     This  it  does  by 


108 


RESULTS   OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


producing  sympathy,  that  sympathy  which  arises  most 
powerfully  from  experience,  and  which,  indeed,  can  hardly 
be  produced  without  it.  The  vast  and  special  importance 
of  affliction,  in  this  respect,  may  be  partly  understood  from 
the  cold  and  deaf  ear  which  those  who  are  in  trouble  are 
apt  to  turn  to  all  exhortations  and  comforts  addressed  to  them 
by  persons  whom  they  suppose  to  have  had  little  or  no 
experience  in  similar  trials  and  afflictions.  "Ah!"  say 
they,  "  you  have  never  been  tried  in  this  way  ;  you  know 
not  what  it  is  to  suffer  as  I  am  doing."  It  is  to  those  who 
have  been  exercised  like  themselves  that  they  approach 
with  pleasure,  and  whose  counsels  they  listen  to  with  con- 
fidence. Let  any  one  sit  down  by  their  side,  and  say, 
"  Ah !  my  friend,  I  know  what  sorrow  is  ;  I  have  tasted  of 
the  same  bitter  cup  as  yourself;"  and  instantly  the  heart 
is  opened  to  him,  from  a  conviction  that  here  is  one  who 
can  sympathize  and  afford  assistance — one  who  can  enter 
into  their  views,  feel  their  sensations,  and  weep  with  them. 
Thus,  by  obtaining  access  to  the  heart  of  the  afflicted,  you 
are  enabled  the  more  effectually  to  impart  instruction,  re- 
proof, or  comfort,  as  the  case  may  require. 

Affliction  also  renders  us  objects  of  observation.  When 
does  a  Christian  most  powerfully  engage  attention  to  him- 
self ?  is  it  when  moving  onward  uniformly  in  prosperity, 
and  health,  and  honor ;  or  in  suffering,  privation,  and  be- 
reavement ?  Undoubtedly  the  latter.  Take  the  histories 
of  Job,  and  Joseph,  and  David,  and  Daniel,  and  Paul :  what 
is  it  that  gives  to  them  their  great  and  peculiar  interest  ? 
is  it  not  chiefly  that  they  place  their  heroes  before  us  in 
circumstances  of  severe  trial,  of  heavy  calamity,  or  of 
sudden  and  extraordinary  reverses  of  fortune?  and  is  it 
not  this  which  renders  them  so  instructive  and  useful  ?  But 
for  this,  how  insipid  would  have  been  the  narrative  of  their 
lives  !    Without  these  shades  the  picture  would  have  had 


RESULTS    OF    SANCTIFED  AFFLICTION. 


109 


neither  beauty  nor  effect.  How  uninteresting,  too,  would 
have  been  the  character  of  these  saints !  Some  of  the 
most  prominent  beauties  would  have  been  hid  from  us, 
and  we  should  have  lost  all  the  advantages  arising  from 
the  contemplation  of  their  faith  and  patience,  their  resigna- 
tion, meekness,  and  constancy,  and  of  the  efficacy  and 
abundance  of  the  grace  of  God.  Thus  the  Christian  often 
derives  his  principal  glory  from  the  sufferings  he  endures. 
Nothing  renders  his  character  more  impressive  and  useful. 
It  recommends  religion,  and  it  carries  along  with  it  a 
peculiar  conviction.  When,  in  a  season  of  distressing  ca- 
lamity, he  is  seen  setting  the  stamp  of  sincerity  on  his 
former  professions,  and  exhibiting  a  touching  and  triumphant 
display  of  the  faithfulness  of  his  Redeemer,  and  of  the 
power  of  his  religion  in  supporting  and  comforting  the 
soul  in  every  time  of  trouble  ;  when  in  his  whole  deport- 
ment he  is  seen  to  wear  the  aspect  of  cheerful  submission, 
equally  removed  from  stoical  insensibility,  and  gloomy 
despondency  ;  when  all  around  see  that  he  can  as  cor- 
dially delight  in  the  service  of  Christ  when  bereaved  and 
disappointed,  as  when  indulged  and  prospered ;  when 
they  see  that  under  the  pressure  of  trials  such  as  might 
bear  down  the  strongest  spirit,  he  can  rise  above  the 
wave  where  others  sink;  rejoicing  in  hope,  patient  in 
tribulation  ; — O  !  must  they  not  be  constrained,  by  such 
an  exhibition  of  the  power  of  the  gospel,  to  believe  in 
its  divine  reality  ?  Must  they  not  see  that  no  earth-born 
principle  could  produce  such  consolations  and  supports  ? 
By  the  contemplation  of  such  scenes,  infidels  have  been 
convinced,  the  wicked  have  been  reclaimed,  the  weak 
have  been  strengthened,  and  the  timid  encouraged.  I 
appeal  to  your  own  feelings.  When  you  have  seen  a 
Christian  thus  suffering  in  all  the  composure  and  majesty 
of  submission,  has  not  a  voice  addressed  you, 


r 


no  RESULTS    or    SANCTIFIED   AFPllCTION. 

"  Now  see  the  man  immortal ;  him  I  mean 
Who  lives  as  such :  whose  heart,  full  bent  on  heaven 
Leans  all  that  way ;  his  bias  on  the  stars. 
The  world's  dark  shades,  in  contrast  set,  shaU  raise 
The  lustre  more ;  though  bright,  without  a  foU ; 
Observe  his  awful  portrait,  and  admire, 
Nor  stop  at  wonder— imitate  and  love  "' 

Should  not  this  consideration  constrain  believers  to  embrace 
with  joy  and  thankfulness  the  opportunity  which  affliction 
affords  them  of  glorifying  God  and  benefiting  man  ?  And 
II,  through  the  testimony  you  have  been  enabled  to  bear  in 
your  sufferings,  but  one  sinner  has  been  reclaimed  from  the 
error  of  his  ways,  but  one  wanderer  has  been  led  to  the 
possession  of  the  peace  of  God  on  earth,  and  the  glory  of 
God  m  heaven,  should  you  not  rejoice  in  your  sufferings 
whatever  they  may  have  been  ?  ' 

Seeing,  then,  that  affliction  is  so  useful  to  the  Christian 
character,  the  remedy  of  so  many  evils,  and  the  occasion 
of  such  invaluable  benefits,  nothing  can  be  more  unreason- 
able than  to  be  displeased  when  we  are  visited  with  it 
Ihis  IS  nothing  less  than  being  displeased  with  that  which 
is  most  needful  and  convenient  for  us-displeased  with 
a  deliverance  from  the  greatest  danger-displeased  with 
the  peace  and  prosperity  of  our  souls.     To  be  dissatisfied 
with  divine  Providence  for  sending  affliction  is  as  incon- 
sistent as  to  be  angry  with  the  physician  because  his  medi- 
cines are  nauseous,  when  he  is  assiduously  promoting  our 
recovery  to  health ;  or  with  our  surgeon  for  probing  a  wound 
which  might  otherwise  prove  fatal  to  life ;  or  with  a  friend 
who  rouses  us  from  a  revery  by  a  blow,  in  order  to  save 
us  from  a  precipice.     A  slight  acquaintance  with  human 
affairs  will  be  sufficient  to  show,  that  while  many  have 
bitter  cause  to  lament  that  they  have  been  rich,  and  pros- 
perous, and  applauded,  and  have  received  their  consolation 


RESULTS  OF   SANCTIFIED  AFFLICTION. 


Ill 


here ;  many  others  have  had  equal  reason  to  be  thankful 
that  they  have  been  impoverished,  bereaved,  disappointed, 
and  afflicted ;  since  their  temporal  poverty  has  added  to 
their  spiritual  treasures  ;  their  earthly  bereavements  have 
led  to  the  formation  of  more  exalted  associations ;  their 
worldly  disappointments  have  caused  them  to  cherish 
their  most  exalted  hopes,  and  their  present  afflictions 
have  contributed  to  the  enlargement  of  their  future  and 
eternal  joys. 


iiMlm 


kUMbt 


mni^ 


112 


THE  ABUSE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


THE  ABUSE  OF  AFFLICTION. 

Man  is  responsible  for  ills  received ! 

Those  we  call  wretched  are  a  chosen  band, 

CompeU'd  to  refuge  in  the  right,  for  peace. 

Amid  my  list  of  blessings  infinite 

Stands  this,  the  foremost,  "  That  my  heart  has  bled." 

'Tis  Heaven's  last  effort  in  good- will  to  man ; 

When  pain  can't  bless,  Heaven  quits  us  in  despair. 

"THOU  HAST  STRICKEN  THEM,  BUT  THEY  HAVE  NOT  GRIEVED;  THOU 
HAST  CONSUMED  THEM,  BUT  THEY  HAVE  REFUSED  TO  RECEIVE  CORREC- 
TION: THEY  HAVE  MADE  THEIR  FACES  HARDER  THAN  A  ROCK;  THEY 
HAVE  REFUSED  TO  RETURN."— Jer.  v,  3- 

It  is  a  lamentable  fact,  that,  in  many  cases,  the  operation 
of  affliction  is  directly  contrary  to  its  intended  design.  The 
mind  is  brought  into  a  worse  state  by  its  sufferings  than 
before — the  heart  is  hardened — the  spirit  is  exasperated. 
Instead  of  submitting  to  God,  the  sinner  rushes  *'  upon  the 
thick  bosses  of  his  buckler,"  and  fights  against  him.  Like 
Ahaz,  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  In  his  afflictions  he  sinned  yet 
more  and  more  against  God."  It  was  an  awful  appeal  that 
Jeremiah  made  to  God  concerning  many  of  his  hearers : 
"  O  Lord,  are  not  thine  eyes  upon  the  truth  ?  Thou  hast 
stricken  them,  but  they  have  not  ^Tieved ;  thou  hast  con- 
sumed them,  but  they  have  refused  to  receive  correction : 
they  have  made  their  faces  harder  than  a  rock  ;  they  have 
refused  to  return."  In  these  cases  we  see  both  the  crime 
and  calamity  of  sinners.  They  abuse,  to  the  most  awful 
purposes,  what  was  capable  of  producing  the  greatest 
advantages ;  the  gracious  design  of  Heaven  is  frustrated ; 
and  their  situation  is  rendered  the  more  desperate  by  the 
very  means  employed  for  their  salvation.  This  abuse  of 
affliction  is  to  be  traced  to  various  causes. 

It  arises  from  inconsideration — from  a  disregard  of  divine 


THE  ABUSE    OF   AFFLICTION. 


113 


I 


agency.     Many  walk  all  through  life,  and  never  meet  with 
God.     Whatever  occurs,  whether  pleasing  or  painful,  it 
fails  to  lead  their  minds  to  him.     When  they  experience 
a  distressing  event,  they  stop  at  second  causes.     They  are 
kept  from  God  by  the  very  instrumentality  he  employs. 
Is  the  affliction  disease  of  body?    it  is  ascribed  to  the 
influence  of  heat  or  cold.     Is  it  loss  of  property  ?  it  is 
viewed  as  the  result  of  carelessness,  chance,  or  injustice. 
Is  it  loss  of  reputation  ?  O  !  they  exclaim,  it  was  that  false 
servant;    that   perfidious  friend;    that   malicious   enemy. 
They  have  no  solemn  recognition  of  God's  all-disposing 
government  and  superintendence  ;  no  thought  of  the  course 
of  events,  but  as  regulated  by  something  which  they  call 
general  laws,  and  then  blended  with  chance  ;  or  of  the 
afflictions  by  which  they  are  exercised,  but  as  the  exclu- 
sive results  of  what  is  merely  subordinate  agency.     Thus 
God  is  far  off— he  is  not  in  all  their  thoughts.     They  feel 
none  of  the  dispositions  which  his  dispensations  ought  to 
inspire.     They  remain  strangers  to  all  the  considerations 
which  tend  either  to  induce  repentance  and  humiliation, 
or  to  inspire  encouragement  and  hope.     The  only  circum- 
stances which  engage  their  attention  are  such  as  excite 
angry  and  bitter  passions.     The  instrument  by  which  they 
suffer  being  only  seen,  it  awakens  their  resentment  and 
provokes  their  revenge ;  or,  if  beyond  their  reach,  their 
minds  sink  into  a  gloomy  and  sullen  despondency. 

This  inconsideration  also  regards  the  design  of  affliction. 
The  evils  which  God  inflicts  are  as  real  a  part  of  his  provi- 
dence as  the  blessings  he  bestows.  Who  may  not  recognize 
his  gracious  arrangement  in  the  appointment  of  night  as  well 

as  day in  the  storm  as  well  as  in  the  calm — in  the  frost  and 

snow  of  winter,  as  well  as  in  the  warmth,  and  beauty,  and 
fragrance  of  summer  ?  Afflictions  are  sent  with  the  same 
wise  and  merciful  design.  For  the  most  part  they  are 
castigatory — to  bring  us  to  a  sight  and  sense  of  our  state — 


114 


THE  ABUSE   OF  AFFLICTION". 


THE  ABUSE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


115 


to  render  sin  more  evident  and  odious  to  us.  They  operate 
like  the  tempest  on  the  ocean.  The  waters,  while  calm  and 
tranquil,  seem  clear  and  transparent ;  but,  when  agitated  by 
the  storm,  they  cast  up  the  mire  and  dirt  which  had  lain 
stagnant  at  the  bottom.  The  least  affliction,  even  to  the 
godly,  is  usually  an  application  of  the  great  Physician  of 
souls  for  the  removal  of  some  growing  disease ;  in  short, 
they  are  deliberate  dispensations  to  lead  men  to  reflect 
upon  their  works  and  ways,  to  repent  of  sin,  and  to  return 
to  God.  Therefore  are  we  commanded  "to  hear  the  voice 
of  the  rod,  and  who  hath  appointed  it."  But  it  is  the  nature 
of  man  to  be  stupid  and  insensible  with  respect  to  divine 
things,  and  divine  teaching.  God  speaks  plainly,  but  he 
will  not  hear.  God  manifested  his  presence  sufficiently 
to  the  Israelites  in  the  wilderness,  but  they  were  slow  in 
learning  that  he  was  ever  with  them,  to  instruct  and  to 
bless  them,  and  that  what  they  suflfered  or  enjoyed  proceeded 
from  himself.  How  little  do  the  world,  in  general,  look 
at  the  design  of  God  in  their  trials  !  One  man  has  loved 
the  partner  of  his  bosom,  the  companion  of  his  soul,  who 
alone  gave  to  life  its  sweetest  enjoyment ;  he  now  deplores 
her  loss,  and  is  ready  to  throw  away  his  life  as  no  longer 
of  any  value.  He  asks,  why  God  should  so  blast  all  his 
prospects?  He  sees  not  that  the  event  was  sent  to  show 
him,  that  he  was  setting  up  his  rest  in  this  world,  that  he 
was  living  unmindful  of  his  Creator,  and  to  awaken  him  to 
a  sense  of  his  error,  that  he  might  not  be  condemned  in 
the  day  of  God.  Another  has  laid  his  schemes  so  wisely 
that  he  imagines  himself  certain  of  success.  He  has  used 
all  possible  precaution,  and  exercised  the  utmost  care  which 
prudence  could  suggest,  and  yet  his  schemes  do  not  suc- 
ceed ;  disappointments  rapidly  follow  each  other ;  events 
totally  unexpected  occur,  and  defeat  all  his  designs ;  he 
blames  this  or  that  purpose,  or  vents  his  anger  upon  out- 
ward circumstances.     He  sees  not  that  God  has  observed 


his  plans,  and  has  chosen  to  disappoint  them,  that  he  may 
no  longer  seek  his  happiness  at  broken  cisterns,  but  repair 
to  the  Fountain  of  living  waters.     Another  person  sets  out 
with  high  expectation  of  attaining  fame  and  reputation  for 
talent  or  science.     His  prospects  are  fair  and  flattering; 
his  hopes  become  dayly  more  sanguine  ;  but,  perhaps,  a 
fever  interposes,  and  destroys  his  capacity  for  application, 
and  defeats  all  his  expectations.     "  How  cruel,"  he  ex- 
claims, "  how  cruel  the  disappointment !"     He  sees  not 
the  hand  of  a  gracious  Providence,  who  is  thus  checking  his 
fond  and  sanguine  hopes,  and  teaching  him  that 

"  This  world  is  not  a  portion  fit  for  man." 

Now  when  men  thus  overlook  the  hand  of  God  in  their 
sorrows— when  they  disregard  the  voice  of  the  rod,  and 
him  who  hath  appointed  it— when  it  fails  to  impress  their 
minds— when  they  neglect  the  proper  improvement  of 
their  afflictions,  they  become  despisers  of  his  grace  ;  and 
for  this  reason  the  Scripture  compares  them  to  those  ani- 
mals that  are  the  most  distinguished  for  stupidity— to  the 
wild  ass's  colt,  the  deaf  adder,  the  silly  dove.  In  this 
comparison,  however,  the  advantage  is  on  the  side  of  the 
beast,  for  its  inconsideration  proceeds  from  its  natural 
incapacity ;  but  with  man  it  is  the  result  of  willful  and 
deliberate  neglect. 

It  is  the  result  of  insensibility.  It  is  the  nature  of  man 
to  be  cold  and  indiflferent  to  the  things  of  God.  An  alien 
and  an  apostate,  his  is  the  carnal  mind,  which  is  enmity 
against  God.  Sin  has  thrown  around  him  a  thick  mantle  of 
ignorance,  prejudice,  and  unconcern.  On  no  other  princi- 
ple can  we  account  for  that  grievous  and  perilous  insensi- 
bility  to  spiritual  and  eternal  things  which  prevails  to  such 
an  awful  extent  among  the  great  mass  of  mankind.  They 
have,  in  many  instances,  the  Bible  in  their  hands ;  they 
have  the  ordinances  of  religion  administered  among  them ; 


116 


THE  ABUSE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


they  have  the  great  truths  of  revelation — the  principles  of 
the  everlasting  gospel  shining  in  unclouded  splendor  around 
them ;  they  have  the  destinies  of  eternity  hovering  with 
awful  and  mysterious  majesty  over  the  scene  of  their  future 
prospects,  to  quicken  their  apprehensions  and  stimulate 
their  inquiries  ;  they  have  the  great  teacher,  death,  reading 
his  monitory  lectures  in  their  ears ;  they  have  the  admoni- 
tions of  Providence  warning  them  from  time  to  time  ;  and 
yet  we  see  them  advancing  along  the  path  of  life  with  all  the 
composure  and  confidence  of  total  indifference,  or  of  per- 
fect security.     They  have  no  vivid  and  realizing  percep- 
tion, no  feeling  of  their  state  as  sinners — of  the  evil  of 
transgression — of  their  need  of  a  Saviour,  or  of  the  neces- 
sity of  repentance  and  conversion.     Thus  when  brought 
into  affliction,  instead  of  being  impressed  by  the  visita- 
tion, and  turning  their  attention  to  the  consideration  of  the 
nature  of  their  state,  or  the  design  of  God,  they  reason 
respecting  it  according  to  the  principles  of  a  worldly  phi- 
losophy, or  seek  diversion  and  solace  in  worldly  pleasures 
and  enjoyments.     "  This,"  they  exclaim,  "  is  a  world  of 
trouble  and  vicissitude.     There  is  no  escape  from  afflic- 
tion.    It  would  be  folly,  therefore,  to  be  much  affected  by 
what  is  common  to  man.     Our  duty  and  our  highest  wis- 
dom is  to  bear  with  patience  what  cannot  be  remedied. 
It  is  beneath  the  dignity  of  man  to  yield  to  despondency; 
he  ought  not  to  be  like  the  sensitive  plant  which  shrinks 
beneath  every  breeze  ;  but  rather  as  the  oak  that  shades 
the  mountain  top,  and  bids  defiance  to  the  storm."     Or,  if 
humanity  yields  to  the  pressure,  and  induces  the  tear,  or 
wrings  forth  the  cry  of  distress  ;  yet,  it  is  the  mere  emotion 
of  nature,  unaccompanied  by  any  concern  at  God's  dis- 
pleasure, any  humiliation  on  account  of  sin,  or  any  sur- 
render of  the  heart  to  the  divine  government.     Hence  the 
world  is  usually  resorted  to  for  consolation.     They  seek 
to  relieve  the  disquietude  of  their  minds,  to  escape  from 


THE  ABUSE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


117 


reflection  by  fleeing  to  its  society,  its  pleasures,  or  its  pur- 
suits ;  and  these  they  employ  as  an  opiate  to  stupefy  the 
conscience  and  benumb  the  heart.  Thus  the  design  of 
affliction  is  entirely  defeated ;  the  insensibility  of  the  sin- 
ner is  promoted  by  the  very  means  employed  to  rouse  him 
from  his  lethargy,  and  his  state  becomes  increasingly  des- 
perate. 

It  is  the  offspring  of  pride  and  malignity.     Pride  is  the 
master  sin  of  our  nature.     Its  language  is,  "  I  will  be  like 
the  Most  High."     It  is  the  cursed  disposition  which  ex- 
pelled angels  from  heaven,  and  Adam  from  paradise.     It 
spurns  the  restraints  and  authority  of  the  supreme  Lawgiver. 
This  is  seen  especially  in  the  time  of  affliction.     Pride  al- 
ways induces  overweening  notions  of  ourselves,  and  of  our 
pretensions ;  it  foments  impatience  of  disposition,  creates 
an  extreme  sensibility  of  the  smallest  inconvenience,  and 
inspires  a  spirit  of  insubordination  that  refuses  to  be  con- 
trolled, and  which  fills  the  heart  with  bitterness  and  resent- 
ment when  placed  under  checks  and  restraints.     When, 
therefore,  God  afflicts  one  whose  heart  is  unhumbled  under 
a  sense  of  sin  and  guilt,  like  Ephraim,  he  struggles  under 
the  chastisement,  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the  yoke, 
and  which  refuses  obedience  to  his  master's  hand.     He 
frets  and  murmurs — regards  himself  as  the  victim  of  a  hard 
and  cruel  destiny — looks  with  dissatisfaction  and  envy  upon 
those  whose   condition  appears  to  be  more  tranquil  and 
prosperous  than  his  own  ;  and,  if  he  thinks  of  God  at  all, 
it  is  with  the  spirit  of  the  ancient  Jews,  who  uttered  the 
impious  sentiment,  and  repeated  it  until  it  became  pro- 
verbial, "  The  ways  of  the  Lord  are  not  equal." 

There  is  also  the  operation  of  malignity.  There  is  a 
passive  malignity  in  all— an  indisposition  to  be  wrought 
upon,  to  receive  impressions  from  God's  hand,  or  to  listen 
to  the  dictates  of  his  Spirit ;  but  in  some  it  assumes  an 
active  form  ;  their  hearts  are  full  of  impatience  and  resent- 


118 


THE  ABUSE   OF  AFFLICTION. 


ment ;  when  God  chastises,  they  are  refractory  and  rebel- 
lious ;  they  endeavor  to  repel  the  strokes  of  his  hand. 
Their  hearts  are  of  an  anvil  temper,  made  harder  by  afflic- 
tion, and  reverberate  the  blow,  like  the  Roman  emperor, 
who,  instead  of  being  humbled  and  alarmed  at  God's  voice, 
when  speaking  in  thunder,  attempted  to  thunder  back  again 
in  defiance.  All  judgments  that  befall  them  are  as  strokes 
given  to  wild  beasts,  which,  instead  of  subduing  and  taming 
them,  produce  a  higher  degree  of  fierceness.  Like  the 
people  of  whom  Isaiah  spake,  they  say,  in  the  pride  and 
stoutness  of  their  hearts,  "  The  bricks  are  fallen  down,  but 
we  will  build  with  hewn  stone ;  the  sycamores  are  cut 
down,  but  we  will  change  them  into  cedars."  Thus  we 
are  presented  with  the  awful  spectacle  of  guilty  creatures 
engaging  in  war  with  their  Creator.  To  such  "  there 
remaineth  nothing  but  a  fearful  looking  for  of  judgment 
and  fiery  indignation,  which  shall  consume  the  adversaries." 
The  conduct  which  has  been  described,  as  it  is  in  the 
highest  degree  dishonorable  to  God,  so  it  must  prove 
ruinous  to  the  sinner.  God  is  our  father  and  our  sove- 
reign, and  it  is  difficult  to  conceive  in  what  way  we  can 
more  extensively  dishonor  him  than  by  this  abuse  of  afflic- 
tion. "  We  have  had  fathers  of  our  flesh  which  corrected 
us,  and  we  gave  them  reverence  ;  shall  we  not  much  rather 
be  in  subjection  to  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live  ?"  Were 
you  to  see  a  son,  who  had  incurred  the  rebuke,  and  pro- 
voked the  anger,  of  a  kind  and  aflectionate  father,  rising 
up  in  rebellion  against  his  authority ;  snatching  the  rod  out  of 
his  hand,  and  breaking  it  to  pieces  ;  flying  from  the  house, 
and  refusing  to  return  ;  were  you  to  hear  him  say,  "  What 
right  hast  thou  to  deal  thus  with  me  ?  I  despise  thy  strokes, 
and  will  do  so  again  ;" — would  you  not  regard  him  with 
horror  ?  Would  he  not  appear  a  monster  rather  than  a  son  ? 
What,  then,  ought  we  to  think  of  such  conduct  when  pre- 
eenled  to  God?     Here  the  sin  rises  in  aggravation  and 


THE  ABUSE   OF  AFFLICTION. 


119 


criminality  in  the  same  proportion  as  God  is  greater  than 
man,  and  his  claims  to  our  gratitude,  reverence,  and  obe- 
dience,  exceed  those  which  belong  to  the  fathers  of  our 
flesh.     It  cannot,  therefore,  go  unpunished.     Under  the 
law,  rebellion,  after  paternal  correction,  was  a  capital  crime ; 
it  was  condemned  by  statute,  and  thus  the  statute  runs : 
"  If  a  man  have  a  stubborn  and  rebellious  son,  which  will 
not  obey  the  voice  of  his  father,  or  the  voice  of  his  mother, 
and  that,  when  they  have  chastened  him,  will  not  hearken 
unto  them ;  then  shall  his  father  and  his  mother  lay  hold 
of  him,  and  bring  him  out  unto  the  elders  of  his  city,  and 
unto  the  gates  of  his  place,  and  they  shall  say  unto  the 
elders  of  his  city.  This  our  son  is  stubborn  and  rebellious ; 
he  will  not  obey  our  voice  ;  he  is  a  glutton  and  a  drunkard. 
And  all  the  men  of  his  city  shall  stone  him  with  stones, 
that  he  die  :  so  shalt  thou  put  evil  away  from  among  you ; 
and  all  Israel  shall  hear  and  fear."   In  such  a  case  there  was 
no  alternative  but  submission  or  destruction.     And  so  it  is 
here  ;  resistance  is  not  only  unreasonable,  but  ruinous ! 
From  this  abuse  of  affliction  three  consequences  will  be 

found  to  arise  : — 

It  will  deprive  us  of  all  the  benefits  which  God  intended 
to  confer  by  it.     These  are  all  comprised  in  this  one  word, 
salvation— a  blessing  that  includes  all  the  riches  of  grace, 
and  the  greater  riches  of  glory :    deliverance  from  sm, 
death,  and  hell ;  the  possession  of  pardon,  peace,  holiness, 
and  heaven  ;  a  blessing,  in  short,  immense,  infinite,  ever- 
lasting ;  which  occupied  the  mind  of  Deity  hom  eternity, 
was  procured  by  the  Son  of  God  upon  the  cross,  and  which 
will  fill  eternity  with  happiness.     How  little,  how  insig- 
nificant, are  all  the  objects  which  inflame  the  imagination, 
excite  the  desires,  or  awaken  the  ambition  of  mankind, 
compared  with  salvation!      Riches,   rank,   fame,   honor, 
pleasure,  are  but  as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance,  when 
contrasted  with  the  salvation  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus, 


120 


THE  ABUSE  OF  AFFLICTION. 


with  eternal  glory.  These  are  by  far  too  valuable  and 
important  to  be  bestowed  on  any  one  who  is  not  in  earnest 
to  obtain  them,  or  who  does  not  possess  a  correspondent 
temper  of  mind.  The  thoughtless,  the  careless,  the  rebel- 
lious, the  impenitent,  cannot,  in  the  nature  of  things,  obtain 
them.  They  will  be  conferred  only  on  the  humble,  the 
contrite,  the  broken  in  heart — those  whose  spirit  is  broken 
down  before  the  Lord ;  and  until  this  state  of  mind  is 
experienced,  salvation  is  impossible. 

It  will  induce  the  Almighty  to  visit  with  heavier  chastise- 
ment. No  man  can  endure  either  that  his  love  or  anger 
should  be  despised  ;  and  if  men  despise  the  chastening  of 
the  Lord,  will  he  not  visit  for  these  things  ?  "  Who  hath 
hardened  himself  against  him,  and  hath  prospered  ?"  "Wo 
unto  him  that  striveth  with  his  Maker."  There  cannot  be 
a  more  certain  presage  of  future  misery  than  to  counteract 
the  afflictive  dispensations  of  divine  Providence.  Then 
the  Almighty  turns  his  rod  into  a  scorpion,  and  fulfills 
the  threatening,  "  If  ye  will  not  be  reformed  by  me,  by 
these  things,  but  will  walk  contrary  unto  me,  then  will  I 
also  walk  contrary  unto  you,  and  will  punish  you  yet  seven 
times  for  your  sins."  Thus  the  first  blow  is  gentle,  it 
affects  the  man's  property  only — a  part  of  his  estate  is 
taken  away ;  if  he  remain  unimpressed  and  unhumbled, 
God  then  bereaves  him  of  a  friend,  or  a  relation  ;  he  after- 
ward enters  his  house,  and  takes  away  a  darling  child — 
perhaps  a  second — a  third ;  he  next  smites  the  partner  of 
his  bosom,  the  delight  of  his  eyes,  and  she  is  made  to 
waste  away  before  him  by  slow  consuming  disease  ;  he 
then  visits  him  with  some  bodily  affliction  :  he  is  laid  upon 
a  bed  of  pain  and  languishing ;  he  is  made  to  feel  in  soli- 
tude the  extent  of  his  bereavement,  and  leisure  is  given 
him  for  reflection :  after  this  he  stripes  his  conscience — 
his  heart  is  fflled  with  bitterness  ;  he  has  a  wounded  spirit 
that  he  cannot  bear  ;  his  life  becomes  burdensome  ;  he  is 


THE    ABUSE   OF    AFFLICTION. 


121 


afraid  to  die,  and  yet  sickens  at  the  thought  of  existence. 
If,  in  all  this,  he  turns  not  unto  God,  with  weeping  and 
mourning,  but  sins  yet  more  and  more,  then  he  casts  him 
into  hell,  with  these  words,  "  He  that,  being  often  reproved, 
hardeneth  his  neck,  shall  suddenly  be  destroyed,  and  that 
without  remedy." 

Sometimes  God  is  induced  to  withdraw  the  rodj  and 
leave  the  sinner  to  the  error  of  his  ways^  saying,  "  Ephraim 
is  joined  to  idols,  let  him  alone."  The  sinner,  perhaps, 
thinks  himself  happy  in  being  released  from  trouble  : 
miserable  delusion !  This  respite  is  the  harbinger  of 
final  ruin.  It  was  an  indication  of  the  desperate  state  of 
Israel,  when  God  said,  "  But  my  people  would  not  hearken 
unto  my  voice  ;  and  Israel  would  none  of  me  :  so  I  gave 
them  up  unto  their  own  hearts'  lusts,  and  they  walked  in 
their  own  counsels."  These  are  evidently  the  words  of  a 
father,  who  having  employed  all  the  means  which  wisdom 
and  love  could  suggest  in  order  to  reclaim  a  rebellious 
son,  and  finding  all  unavailing,  at  length  determines  to  give 
him  up  to  the  waywardness  of  his  own  heart.  When  God 
thus  resolves  to  dismiss  a  man,  and  to  have  no  more  to  do 
with  him,  the  judgment  is  most  awful.  The  calm  which 
follows  is  more  dreadful  than  the  fiercest  storm.  Nothing 
can  be  more  fatal  to  the  sinner :  it  is  a  freedom  to  sin  ;  it 
is  the  removal  of  hinderances  out  of  the  way  of  perdition  ; 
and  thus  giving  the  unhappy  wretch  an  unchecked  passage 
in  his  career  of  folly  and  disobedience,  so  that  he  goes  on 
undistiirbed  in  his  iniquities,  every  day  increasing  his 
enmity  against  God,  and  increasing  God's  enmity  against 
him  ;  treasuring  up  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath.  His 
salvation  then  becomes  hopeless.  When  the  heart  is  not 
conquered  by  affliction,  is  it  likely  that  worldly  prosperity 
and  sensual  indulgence  will  win  it  over  to  God  ?  When 
.the  whip,  and  the  spur,  and  the  discipline  of  the  yoke, 
cannot  tame  and  subdue  the  unmanageable  animal,  will  the 

6 


122 


THE    ABUSE   OF   AFFLICTION. 


end  be  accomplished  by  suffering  him  to  range  undis- 
turbed, whithersoever  his  inclinations  may  lead  him  ?  A 
man  thus  abandoned  of  God  is  sure  of  being  ensnared  by 
error,  enslaved  by  lust,  and  led  captive  by  the  devil  at  his 
will  down  to  the  regions  of  everlasting  wo.  That,  there- 
fore, which  the  sinner  has  to  dread  above  everything  else, 
is  to  be  left  without  affliction  ;  for  this  is  the  effect  of  God's 
deepest  displeasure. 

Reader,  art  thou  not  in  danger  of  this  ?    Many  afflictions 
you  have  doubtless  felt.     God  hath  often   spoken  to  you 
by  the  rod  ;  you  have  had  stroke  upon  stroke,  so  that  it 
would  have  seemed  impossible  for  you  to  stand  out.    These 
trials  you  have  doubtless  felt,  but  have  you  seen  the  hand 
of  God  in  them  ?    have  you  considered  that  these  have 
formed  a  part  of  the  discipline  and  chastening  which  God, 
in  his  infinite  mercy,  hath  been  employing  for  your  salva- 
tion ?  have  they  tended  to  humble  you — to  imbitter  sin  to 
your  taste — to  inspire   repentance  in  the  review  of  your 
past  conduct — to  lead  you  to  seek  forgiveness  and  salva- 
tion ?  or,  after  all  that  God  hath  done,  are  you  still  thought- 
less,  insensible,   unsubmissive,    and   rebellious  ?      Then 
awake,  thou  that  sleepest ;  cease  to  weary  the  Almighty 
with  thy  perverseness  ;  dare  not,  at  the  peril  of  thy  soul, 
tempt  his  long-suffering  any  longer,  lest  he  be  induced  to 
say,  "  I  have  overthrown  some  of  you,  as  God  overthrew 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  ye  are  as  a  firebrand  plucked 
out  of  the  burning  :  yet  have  ye  not  returned  unto  me,  saith 
the  Lord.     Therefore  thus  will  I  do  unto  thee,  O  Israel ! 
and  because  I  will  do  this  unto  thee,  prepare  to  meet  thy 
God,  O  Israel !"     But  canst  thou  stand  before  him  ?  "Can 
thine  heart  endure,  or  can  thy  hands  be  strong,  in  the  days 
when  He  shall  deal  with  thee  ?"  How  much  better  to  "  be 
in  subjection  to  the  Father  of  spirits,  and  live."     Delay, 
then,  no  longer :  while  God  is  yet  waiting  to  be  gracious  ;- 
while  the  compassionate  Friend  of  sinners  still  intercedes 


THB   ABUSE   OF   AFFLICTION. 


123 


for  thee ;  while  the  ever-blessed  Spirit  condescends  to 
strive  with  the  hardness  of  thy  heart ;  while  the  affliction 
thou  art  enduring  furnishes  proof  that  thou  art  not  yet 
abandoned  ;  flee,  sinner  !  flee  from  thy  sins— thy  unbelief 
—thy  lukewarmness ;  flee  to  Jesus,  cast  thyself  at  his 
feet,  and  cry  with  Ephraim,  «  Thou  hast  chastised  me, 
and  I  was  chastised ;  as  a  bullock  unaccustomed  to  the 
yoke  ;  turn  thou  me,  and  I  shall  be  turned  ;  for  thou  art 
the  Lord  my  God."     Then  shall  God,  as  he  looks  upon 
your  confusion  and  your  distress,  as  he  sees  you  smiting 
upon  your  breast  in  the  bitterness  of  your  sorrow,  break 
forth  in  mercy  upon  your  disordered  soul,  like  the  sun 
when  emerging  from  some  dark  and  lowering  cloud,  with 
the  assurance  of  mercy  and  grace.     «  Is  Ephraim  my  dear 
son  ?    Is  he  a  pleasant  child  ?  for  since  I  spake  against 
him,  I  do  earnestly  remember  him  still :    therefore  my 
bowels  are  troubled  for  him ;  I  will  surely  have  mercy 
upon  him,  saith  the  Lord." 


124 


DEPRESSION   IN   AFFLICTION. 


DEPRESSION  OF  MIND  IN  AFFLICTION. 

Yo  fearful  saints,  fresh  courage  take, 

The  clouds  yc  so  much  dread, 
Are  big  with  mercy,  and  ehall  break 

In  blessings  on  your  head. 

Judge  not  the  Lord  by  feeble  sense, 

But  trust  him  for  his  grace ; 
Behind  a  frowning  Providence 

He  hides  a  smiling  face. 

His  purposes  will  ripen  fiist, 

Unfolding  every  hour ; 
The  bud  may  have  a  bitter  taste, 

But  sweet  will  be  the  flower. 

..  IF  THOU   FAINT   IN   THE  DAY    OF   ADVERfilTY,  THY  STRENGTH  W 
SMALL."— Proverbs  xxiv,  10. 

In  affliction  there  are  two  extremes  to  which  wo  are 
liable,  and  against  which  we  are  cautioned  by  an  apostle : 
«  My  son,  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor 
faint  when  thou  art  rebuked  of  him."     We   are  neither 
presumptuously  to  brave  affliction,  nor  despondingly  to  sink 
under  it.     In  either  case,  the  consequenc«fs,  as  to  religion, 
are  most  ruinous.     Sad,  indeed,  is  the  condition  of  that 
man,  who  in  the  time  of  affliction  gives  himself  up  to  gloom 
and  despondency.     His  mind  becomes  like  the  ocean  when 
tossed  by  the  tempest ;  it  is  thrown  into  a  state  of  con- 
fusion, perplexity,  and  agitation.     Fretted  by  anxiety,  and 
alarmed  by  fear,  he  dwells  with  bitter  reflections  on  the 
miseries  he  endures— feeds  upon  his  own  melancholy— 
and  is  tempted  to  curse  the  day  of  his  birth.     Life  becomes 
a  burden  ;  he  turns  away  from  the  voice  of  Christian  sym- 
pathy, and  the  counsels  of  inspiration,  for  he  says,  "  My 
case   is  hopeless."     He  murmurs  and  repines— hardens 


DEPRESSION   IN   AFFLICTION. 


125 


himself  in  his  sorrow,  and  cries,  "  O  that  it  would  please 
the  Lord  to  destroy  me !"  His  thoughts  rest  on  those  sub- 
jects only  which  tend  to  torment,  and  which  defeat  the 
end  of  providential  chastisement.  Various  causes  may 
operate  in  producing  this  state  of  mind,  and  these  require 
to  be  distinctly  traced,  that  wherever  it  exists  the  sufferer 
may  be  guided  to  its  true  source. 

In  some  cases  it  arises  from  the  remembrance  of  past 
sin.  All  misery  is  the  effect  of  sin  ;  it  naturally,  therefore, 
reminds  us  of  it.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  men  so  generally 
regard  affliction  as  the  effect  of  God's  displeasure.  The 
catastrophe  at  the  tower  of  Siloam  led  the  Jews  to  conclude 
that  they  who  perished  were  sinners  above  all  others  in 
Jerusalem.  When  the  barbarians  saw  the  viper  fasten  on 
the  hand  of  Paul,  they  said  among  themselves, ''  No  doubt 
this  man  is  a  murderer,  whom,  though  he  hath  escaped  the 
sea,  yet  vengeance  sufTereth  not  to  live."  And  though  we 
are  much  more  disposed  to  judge  others  by  this  erroneous 
rule  than  ourselves,  "  yet  there  is  something  in  calamity," 
says  Madame  de  Stael,  "  that  tends  to  make  all  minds 
superstitious."  It  would  have  been  more  correct  had  she 
said,  that  tends  to  revive  the  remembrance  of  a  moral  pro- 
vidence, and  the  belief  of  a  connection  between  sin  and 
})unishment.  This  i?  more  especially  the  case  when  afflic- 
tions are  sudden  and  unlooked-for,  when  they  are  heavy  and 
of  long  continuance,  or  possess  a  peculiarity  of  character. 
Joseph's  brethren,  when  they  were  accused  as  spies,  and 
threatened  with  punishment,  said  one  to  another, "  We  are 
verily  guilty  concerning '  our  brother,  in  that  we  saw  the 
anguish  of  his  soul,  when  he  besought  us  and  we  would 
not  hear  ;  therefore  is  this  distress  come  upon  us."  Even 
good  men  have  not  always  been  able  to  resist  such  impres- 
sions and  conclusions.  Gideon  said,  "  If  the  Lord  be  with 
us,  why  then  is  this  evil  befallen  us  ?"  And  the  pious 
widow  of  Sarephath,  upon  the  loss  of  her  child,  said  to  the 


126 


DEPRESSION    IN    AFFLICTION. 


prophet,  "  What  have  I  to  do  with  thee,  0  thou  man  of 
God  ?  art  thou  come  to  call  my  sin  to  remembrance,  and  to 
slay  my  son  ?"  The  poet  tells  us,  "  Behind  a  frowning 
providence  He  hides  a  smiling  face ;"  but  he  doth  hide  it. 
The  frown  is  visible  enough — sense  can  see  that ;  but  the 
smile  can  only  be  apprehended  by  faith :  there  are  some, 
however,  whom  Bunyan  designates  "  Little-faith  ;"  though 
sincere,  they  are  diffident  and  timorous ;  their  confidence  is 
weak  and  fluctuating,  and  they  are  prone  to  faint  in  the  day 
of  adversity,  because  their  strength  is  small.  But  it  is  in  the 
case  of  sinners  we  find  the  most  striking  exemplification, 
particularly  when  they  have  gone  to  great  lengths  in  sin. 
It  is  not  unusual  for  such  persons  when  brought  into  deep 
affliction,  to  regard  it  as  an  indication  not  only  of  God's 
indignation,  but  also  of  the  hopelessness  of  their  state  : 
their  past  sins  are  brought  to  remembrance ;  they  view  them 
under  the  influence  of  gloomy  and  depressed  feelings  ;  they 
dwell  upon  their  number,  their  aggravation,  and  desert ; 
perhaps  some  peculiar  sin  rests  like  an  intolerable  burden 
upon  the  conscience.  Under  the  united  influence  of  re- 
morse and  despondency  they  give  up  all  for  lost,  and  con- 
clude that  all  they  suflfer  is  but  the  presage  of  still  greater 
woes  in  the  world  to  come.  Thus  the -heart  becomes  harder 
by  despair,  and  the  sinner  turns  away  from  all  considerations 
but  those  which  tend  to  rivet  him  to  his  sins,  and  to  keep  him 
from  Christ  the  Saviour  of  the  lost. 

With  many  it  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the  weight  and  severity 
of  their  affliction.  Perhaps  it  presents  an  aspect  altogether 
peculiar,  or  many  troubles  meet  together,  like  dark  clouds  in 
winter,  which  by  their  union  quite  intercept  the  rays  of  the 
sun.  Had  it  been  a  common  affliction,  they  persuade 
themselves  they  could  have  borne  it ;  but  a  calamity  so 
heavy  is  more  than  they  can  bear.  They  adopt  the  strong 
language  of  Job,  as  expressive  of  their  own  feelings,  "  O ! 
that  my  grief  were  thoroughly  weighed,  and  my  calamity 


DEPRESSION    IN    AFFLICTION. 


127 


laid  in  the  balance  together !  for  now  it  would  be  heavier 
than  the  sand  of  the  sea :  therefore  my  words  are  swal- 
lowed up.     For  the  arrows  of  the  Almighty  are  within  me, 
the  poison  whereof  drinketh  up  my  spirits  :  the  terrors  of 
God  do  set  themselves  in  array  against  me."     Perhaps  this 
trouble  originates  in  some  painful  bereavement.    The  desire 
of  their  eyes,  the  delight  of  their  heart,  is  taken  away  at  a 
stroke  !   Perhaps  he  is  taken  away  upon  whom  their  comfort 
and  very  subsistence  depended.     Who  is  this  that  sits  soli- 
tary and  dejected  ?  Inattentive  to  everything  passing  around 
her,  she  is  ruminating  on  days  that  are  past,  and  comforts  that 
are  lost  for  ever.     She  looks  forward  to  mournful  hours,  to 
difficulties  and  dangers.     Her  face  is  overcast  with  gloom, 
her  eyes  are  red  with  weeping,  her  bosom  heaves,  and  she 
says,  "  Call  me  not  Naomi,"  that  is,  pleasant,  "  but  call  me 
Mara,"  that  is,  bitter,  "  for  the  Almighty  hath  dealt  ver>^ 
bitterly  with  me."     It  is  the  newly-made  widow.     She  has 
lost  the  support  of  her  life,  the  joy  of  her  soul.     She  is  left 
with  a  numerous  family — she  is  friendless.    Weak  and  deli- 
cate, she  is  unable  to  struggle  with  difficulties ;  she  fears 
that  in  a  little  time  sickness,  or  even  death,  may  overtake 
her  ;  and  then  she  must  leave  her  children  to  the  world, 
as  poor  and  helpless  orphans.     Pitiable   case !    can   we 
wonder  that  her  spirit  is  sad,  or  that  her  heart  bleeds  with 
anguish  ?    Perhaps  the  affliction  is  in  their  worldly  circum- 
stances ;  they  have  lost  their  property — all  they  had  is  gone. 
They  are  brought  down  at  once  to  poverty  :  disappointed 
in  all  their  hopes ;  unable  to  meet  the  imperious  demands 
that  are  made  upon  them  ;  surrounded  by  a  large  family 
looking  to  them  for  support ;  is  it  surprising  that  calamity 
weighs  down  their  spirits  ?     Perhaps  their  trouble  arises 
from  their  family  connections.     They  are  doomed  to  drag 
out  life  with  those  whose  base  tempers,  and  whose  baser 
conduct,  are  intolerable.     They  have  to  bear  the  conse- 
quences of  their  imprudences  and  their  crimes ;  day  by 


128 


DEPRESSION    IN   AFFLICTION. 


day  their  prospects  become  darker,  and  their  trials  more 
difficult  to  be  borne.  Perhaps  the  affliction  is  a  pain- 
ful and  continued  sickness :  the  hand  of  God  is  upon  the 
family  or  upon  the  person.  It  is  an  affliction  that  deprives 
them  of  social  comfort,  and  robs  the  family  of  all  enjoy- 
ment. It  is  sometimes  exceedingly  painful  and  alarming. 
Means  of  every  description  have  been  used  without  effect, 
and  now  they  have  only  to  say,  "  This  is  our  affliction,  and 
we  must  bear  it."  In  all  these  cases  it  is  easy  to  observe 
the  direct  influence  of  affliction  upon  the  mind.  It  is  not  a 
sin  to  feel  the  pain  which  it  inflicts,  for  then  must  the  suf- 
ferer be  something  more  or  less  than  man.  The  degree 
of  sorrow  is  allowed  to  be  proportioned  to  the  degree  of 
affliction ;  but  when  sorrow  militates  against  the  salvation 
of  the  soul — when  it  causes  us  to  omit  incumbent  duties, 
or  to  commit  sin  by  indulging  tempers  inconsistent  with 
our  obligations  and  circumstances,  we  ought  to  remember, 
that  no  weight  of  affliction  will  justify  our  conduct,  or  ex- 
tenuate our  crime. 

The  strength  of  our  passions  is  another  cause  of  depres- 
sion. Far  be  it  from  me  to  intimate  that  the  passions  are 
sinful ;  this  would  be  nothing  less  than  to  reflect  on  the 
infinite  wisdom  of  the  Creator,  who,  for  purposes  worthy 
of  himself,  has  implanted  them  in  our  nature.  Human 
life,  without  the  kindly  influence  of  the  passions,  would 
present  a  cheerless,  insipid,  and  uninteresting  scene  ;  a 
group  of  insulated  beings,  destitute  of  all  those  feelings 
which  link  man  to  man,  and  awaken  all  the  pleasures  of 
social  life.  The  endearments  and  felicity  of  heaven  itself 
must,  in  a  great  measure,  depend  on  the  sanctified  exercise 
of  the  most  refined  and  exalted  passions  of  the  mind.  But, 
alas  !  how  often  in  this,  as  in  other  respects,  has  the  mer- 
ciful bestowment  of  Heaven  been  abused  to  purposes  the 
most  degraded !  How  frequently  has  passion  usurped  the 
place  of  reason,  and,  having  ceased  to  be  the  source  of 


DEPRESSION    IN  AFFLICTION, 


129 


happiness,  it  has  become  the  fruitful  occasion  of  misery ! 
The  operation  of  the  passions  in  this  way  is  seen  par- 
ticularly in  circumstances  of  trouble.  They  often  bid 
defiance  to  the  dictates  of  reason  and  religion,  establish  a 
direct  opposition  between  our  principles  and  our  practice, 
and  render  the  man  of  reflection  a  wonder  to  himself. 
The  first  principles  of  religion  stand  immediately  connect- 
ed with  adversity.  That  the  infinitely  wise  and  gracious 
God  governs  the  world ;  that  every  affliction  takes  place 
under  his  direction ;  that,  in  all  his  dispensations,  he  is 
constantly  seeking  our  profit,  in  the  promotion  of  our  best 
and  most  important  interests ;  and,  therefore,  our  duty  is 
humble  and  cheerful  acquiescence  in  all  his  will,  and  a 
finn  and  steadfast  reliance  upon  his  mercy  as  it  is  revealed 
in  the  gospel — these  are  our  principles.  But  what  is  the 
language  of  our  aflfections  ?  *'  Acquiescence  ?  impossible  ! 
What !  acquiesce  in  the  loss  of  all  my  comforts,  when  I 
can  think  of  nothing  but  the  dear  object  that  is  gone,  gone 
'  for  ever !  Acquiesce  in  severe  pain,  and  the  prospect  of 
continued  sickness  and  unremitted  trouble  !  Had  you  said. 
Encourage  grief — give  way  to  repining — foster  despond- 
ency, then  obedience  had  been  easy.  And  how  can  this 
affliction  be  the  result  of  kindness,  when  it  has  withered 
all  my  comforts,  darkened  all  my  prospects,  and  when,  in 
consequence,  I  shall  be  compelled  to  go  down  mourning 
to  the  grave  ?"  So  spake  Jacob,  when,  grieving  for  the 
loss  of  his  children,  he  exclaimed,  "  All  these  things  are 
against  me !"  So  spake  Job,  when,  overcome  by  the  bit- 
terness of  his  grief,  he  said,  "  He  hath  destroyed  me  on 
every  side,  and  I  am  gone,  and  my  hope  hath  he  removed 
like  a  tree.  He  hath  also  kindled  his  wrath  against  me, 
and  he  counteth  me  unto  him  as  one  of  his  enemies."  So 
spake  David,  at  a  time  when  his  views  were  regulated  by 
feeling,  rather  than  grace :  "  Will  the  Lord  cast  us  off 
for  ever  ?  and  will  he  be  favorable  no  more  ?  Is  his  mercy 

6* 


'•««Hi 


130 


DEPRESSION    IN   AFFLICTION. 


clean  gone  for  ever  ?  doth  his  promise  fail  for  evermore  ? 
Hath  God  forgotten  to  be  gracious  ?  Hath  he  in  anger 
shut  up  his  tender  mercies  ?"  In  each  of  these  cases  the 
sequel  showed,  how  erroneous  are  those  conclusions  which 
are  dictated  by  passion,  and  how  well  able  God  is  to 
render  our  heaviest  afflictions  productive  of  our  choicest 
mercies. 

In  some  cases  the  cause  is  physical.  The  potent  influ- 
ence of  several  morbid  diseases  of  the  body  upon  the  mind 
has  been  long  ascertained,  and,  in  the  diagnosis  of  disease, 
medical  men  are  in  the  constant  habit  of  regarding  diflferent 
conditions  of  the  mind  as  characteristic  of  certain  diseases 
of  the  body.  This  will  not  excite  surprise,  if  we  consider 
how  much  the  operations  of  the  mind  afl^ect  those  of  the 
body.  A  single  night  of  excessive  grief  has  been  known 
to  change  the  color  of  the  hair,  and  to  render  it  white.  A 
sudden  burst  of  passion  has  occasioned  the  rupture  of  a 
blood-vessel,  and  even  of  the  heart  itself.  Cases  of  this 
kind  are  indeed  of  rare  occurrence ;  those  of  an  opposite 
kind,  in  which  the  state  of  the  body  afl^ects  the  mind,  are  of 
dayly  notoriety.  There  are  diseases  which  are  well  known 
to  produce  a  gloomy  and  distressing  temperament,  that 
lead  men  to  view  everything  through  an  alarming  and 
dismaying  medium,  and  to  draw  toward  themselves  all 
that  is  awful  and  distressing.  Every  object  presented  to 
the  mind  then  assumes  the  deep  tinge  of  its  own  gloom, 
and  an  unhappy  facility  is  acquired  in  perverting  every 
topic  of  consolation  and  encouragement.  The  prevalence 
of  this  morbid  aff*ection  produces  in  some  fixed  melancholy; 
but  even  the  slighter  diffusion  of  it  may  be  attended  with 
the  most  trying  irritation  and  depression.  Even  in  pros- 
perity, when  external  circumstances  are  generally  agree- 
able, it  sometimes  turns  the  fair  face  of  nature  into  a 
universal  blank,  and  imbitters  every  enjoyment ;  but,  in 
adversity  and  affliction  its  operation  is  still  more  distress- 


Bi?-!8f^'~i-'lw-3«B.Ki^^fcl?i?**j»K3;'' 


DEPRESSION   IN   AFFLICTION. 


131 


jjjg ; — every  object  becomes  distorted  ;  the  rod  is  magnified 
into  an  instrument  of  death  and  terror ;  the  most  gloomy 
apprehensions   are   indulged ;    nothing  is   seen  but  what 
produces  perplexity  and  disquietude.     Is  the  sufferer  an 
unconverted  sinner  ?  he  regards  his  state  as  hopeless  ;  "  I 
have   sinned,"  he  says,   "beyond  the   reach   of  mercy. 
These  visitations  are  the  presages  of  eternal  ruin ;  God 
has  forsaken  me  ;  my  harvest  is  past,  my  summer  is  ended, 
and  I  am  not  saved."     We  have  known  similar  views 
entertained  by  many  excellent  persons,  of  whose  piety  we 
could  entertain  no  doubt.     While  hungering  and  thirsting 
after  righteousness,  evincing  an  abhorrence  of  sin,  and  a 
fear  of  offending  God,  they  have  gloomily  concluded  that 
there  remained  no  hope  for  them,  and  that  their  hearts 
were  not  right  in  the  sight  of  God.     It  is  difficult  to  reason 
with  persons  in  this  frame,  or  under  this  tendency  of  mind. 
But  wherefore  do  they  write  these  bitter  things  against 
themselves  ?     There  is  no  reason  why  they  should.     But 
the  cause  why  they  do  so  is  to  be  sought  in  their  physical 
economy;  and  till  there  be  an  alteration  there,  all  the 
succors  of  religion  will  be  urged  in  vain. 

Depression  of  mind  is  often  the  resuU  of  severe  tempta- 
tion. Satanic  influence  involves  much  mystery ;  but  the 
word  of  God  renders  it  undoubted.  This  apostate  spirit — 
this  enemy  of  righteousness— is  deeply  concerned  in  oppos- 
ing the  designs  of  God  for  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of 
men.  With  this  view  he  exerts  all  his  policy  from  day 
to  day,  continually  lying  in  wait  to  deceive,  and,  "  like  a 
roaring  lion,  goes  about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour." 

"He  now  is  plotting  how  he  may  seduce 
Us  all  from  obedience ;  that  with  him, 
Deprived  of  happiness,  we  may  partake 
His  punishment— eternal  misery— 
Which  would  be  all  his  solace  and  revenge, 
As  a  despite  done  against  the  Most  High." 


132 


DEPRESSION   IN    AFFLICTION. 


Now  Satan  usually  finds  a  season  of  affliction  favorable  to 
his  work  of  temptation,  and  he  never  fails  to  avail  himself 
of  it.     Although  much  that  is  ascribed  to  the  agency  of 
Satan  ought  rather  to  be  viewed  as  resulting  from  the  evil 
of  our  own  hearts,  yet  that  agency  is  often  exerted  to  the 
detriment  of  the  souls  of  men,  and  in  no  case  oftener  than 
in  affliction.     When  Pharaoh  was  informed  that  the  chil- 
dren of  Israel  were  entangled  in  the  wilderness,  he  resolved 
to  pursue  them,  and  mustered  his  forces  for  the  purpose, 
in  the  anticipation  of  an  easy  and  decisive  victory.  *  Thus, 
when  Satan  sees  us  entangled  with  perplexity  and  distress, 
he  frequently  comes  in  upon  us  as  a  flood,  that,  if  possible, 
he  may  utterly  overwhelm  us.     In  this  manner  he  assailed 
our  Lord.     It  was  when  approaching  the  awful  consum- 
mation of  his  woes,  and  when  his  soul  was  "  exceeding 
sorrowful,  even  unto  death,"  that  Satan  exerted  his  utmost 
malice  against  him,  and  turned  the  hour  of  his  deepest 
anguish  into  "  the  hour  and  power  of  darkness."     Thus  it 
was  with  Job.     It  was  when  he  was  suffering  from  the 
irritating  influence  of  his  strange  and  complicated  woes, 
that  he  tempted  him  to  curse  God  to  his  face :  and  Satan 
is  never  wanting  to  exert  his  power  upon  those  who  are 
exercised  by  the  hand  of  God.     Some  of  his  temptations 
are  of  a  nature  not  to  be  misunderstood ;  their  design  is 
self-evident — to  excite  a  murmuring  and  rebellious  dispo- 
sition, by  representing   God  as  a  hard  task-master;  as 
severe  and  vindictive  in  his  dispositions — unjust  and  unrea- 
sonable in  his  requirements ;  thus  he  seeks  to  inflame  the 
passions,  to  pervert  the  judgment,  and  to  excite  bitterness 
opposition,  and  presumption.     Or  he  approaches  in  a  more 
covert  and  subtil  manner,  and,  by  reasoning,  not  against 
God,  but  for  him,  although  in  a  manner  equally  false  and 
deceptive,  he  endeavors  to  cast  the  soul  into  despondency, 
and  to  prevent  it  from  obtaining  help  or  comfort.  Great  is  the 
distress  which,  in  consequence,  is  sometimes  experienced. 


DEPRESSION    IN   AFFLICTION. 


133 


The  want  of  a  sure  trust  and  confidence  in  Goa  as  our 
God,  is  another  cause  of  depression.     Without  the  clear 
assurance  of  God's  favor  there  can  neither  be  stability  nor 
comfort  in  affliction.     This  is  the  anchor  to  the  soul  both 
sure  and  steadfast.     Nothing  else  will  hold  in  the  time  of 
its  tribulation.     The  storm  increasing  will  drive  it  from  its 
fastenings,  and  toss  it  to  and  fro,   like  a  vessel  which 
having  lost  its  helm,  floats  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds  and  the 
waves.     That  which  alone  can  prepare  us  for  trouble,  and 
support  us  in  it,  is  a  Scriptural  confidence  in  God.     The 
deeper  our  convictions  of  his  pardoning  love,  the  stronger 
will  be  our  trust  in  his  interposition.     The  greater  our 
assurance  of  present  forgiveness,  the  fuller  will  be  our  re- 
liance upon  future  deliverance.     How  was  it  that  the  saints 
of  old  time  were  so  joyful  and  triumphant  in  their  afflic- 
tions? was  it  not  because  they  were  strong  in  faith,  giving 
glory  to  God  ?     The  eleventh  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the 
Hebrews  presents  a  striking  display  of  this  truth.     It  ex- 
hibits a  host  of  worthies,    "  who  through  faith  subdued 
kingdoms,  wrought  righteousness,  obtained  promises,  stop- 
ped the   mouth  of  lions,  quenched  the  violence  of  fire, 
escaped  the  edge  of  the  sword,  out  of  weakness  were  made 
strong,  waxed  valiant  in  fight,  and  put  to  flight  the  armies 
of  the  aliens."     A  lively  faith  enables  us  to  rejoice  in 
God's  paternal  care  and  love.     This  is  enough  of  itself, 
without  any  addition,  to  warrant  every  expectation.     It 
contains  within  itself  a  ready  answer  to  every  want,  and 
will  expand  into  length  and  breadth  enough  to  cover  every 
sorrow.     It  not  only  sheds  the  soothing  light  of  peace  on 
everything  that  is  gone  by,  but  the  sparkling  ray  of  hope 
on  all  things  yet  to  come.     May  I  trust  in  his  pardoning 
compassion?    May  I  flee  to  him  as  my  Father?    May  I 
believe  that,  sinner  as  I  am,  he  has  redeemed  me  by  his 
Son,  and  that  he  owns  me  as  his  child  ?   then  as  a  child 
1  may  depend  upon  him,  and  expect  his  support  and  de- 


134 


DEPRESSION   IN  AFFLICTION. 


liverance.  So  far,  therefore,  as  the  mind  is  under  the 
influence  of  this  principle,  it  is  kept  in  perfect  peace.  But 
if  faith  be  weak,  every  grace  will  be  weak  also ;  our  sub- 
mission will  be  partial ;  our  hope  languid  ;  and  our  peace 
disturbed  ;  dispirited,  weak,  and  cowardly,  our  souls  will 
sink  under  small  difficulties.  All  the  disquietude  and  de- 
pression which  a  Christian  feels,  spring  from  the  weakness 
or  the  want  of  faith  in  God.  It  is  not  from  outward  things. 
These  are  often  blamed,  and  these  may  be  very  trying ; 
but  it  is  not  the  water  without  the  vessel  that  sinks  it,  but 
the  water  that  gets  within.  The  primitive  Christians 
could  say,  "  We  are  troubled  on  every  side,  yet  not  dis- 
tressed;  sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing:"  and  we  have 
seen  afflicted  men,  with  every  aggravation  that  desertion 
and  poverty  could  cause,  still  happy  and  contented,  be- 
cause they  could  rely  on  God  as  their  God.  This  is  the 
universal  remedy,  the  charm  for  every  grief : — 

"  Give  what  he  can,  without  him  we  are  poor ; 
With  him  rich,  take  what  he  will  away." 

The  true  reason,  therefore,  why  Christians  are  so  ac- 
cessible to  fear,  so  preyed  upon  by  anxiety,  so  depressed 
by  affliction,  is  because  they  do  not  sufficiently  rely  upon 
God.  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him  in  perfect  peace  whoso  mind 
is  stayed  on  thee,  because  he  trusteth  in  thee." 

"  O  for  a  strong  and  lasting  faith  ! 
To  credit  what  the  Almighty  saith ; 
To  embrace  the  message  of  his  Son, 
And  call  the  joys  of  heaven  my  own." 

These  are  the  principal  causes  of  depression :  others 
more  particular  might  be  mentioned,  but  it  is  probable  they 
might  all  be  reduced  to  one  or  other  of  those  specified. 
This  state  of  mind  is  productive  of  serious  evils.  It  indis- 
poses for  the  performance  of  duty.  Hope  is  the  great 
stimulus  to  exertion,  but  despondency  paralyzes  our  ener- 


''!>mi!'^-sm»Jit»tan'?mm^M^^ 


DEPRESSION  IN  AFFLICTION. 


135 


gies ;  like  che  pinching  blast  that  checks  the  progress  of 
vegetation,  it  prevents  the  due  exercise  of  reason  and 
grace,  and  cuts  the  sinews  of  obedience.  He  who  despairs 
either  of  deriving  advantage  from  his  troubles,  or  of  obtain- 
ing deliverance  from  them,  will  neither  repent,  nor  pray, 
nor  reform.  Dejection  causes  him  to  indulge  in  all  the 
bitterness  of  unavailing  grief,  and  to  turn  away  from  the 
refuge  which*  divine  mercy  hath  provided,  and  where  he 
might  find  security  and  peace.  It  takes  away  the  relish 
for  present  mercies,  and  disqualifies  us  for  receiving  those 
comforts  which  are  proper  for  an  afflicted  state ;  it  fills 
the  spirit  with  impatience  and  discontent ;  it  disposes  us 
to  fretfulness  and  resentment ;  it  dishonors  God,  by  mis- 
representing his  character  and  designs,  by  indulging  hard 
thoughts  of  him,  and  by  falsifying  his  word ;  it  doubles 
the  real  affliction,  without  giving  any  relief;  it  urges  on- 
ward to  desperation,  and  often  drives  men  to  intoxication, 
to  infidelity,  to  suicide.  To  persons  who  are  suffer- 
ing from  depression,  the  following  suggestions  may  be 
useful. 

Examine  carefully  the  cause  of  your  depression.  Such 
an  examination  will  always  be  found  highly  necessary, 
and  extensively  important.  Thus  David,  in  a  season  of 
deep  affliction,  when  his  soul  was  cast  down  within  him, 
remonstrated  with  himself,  and  seriously  investigated  the 
cause  of  his  dejection :  "  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my 
soul,  and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me  ?"  He  seems 
to  have  entered  upon  a  course  of  reasoning  something  like 
this  :  "  This  discomposure  of  mind  may  arise,  after  all, 
from  mistaken  views  of  my  own  state,  or  misconceptions 
of  the  ways  of  God's  dealing  with  his  people.  Let  me  not 
rest,  therefore,  in  hasty  or  superficial  views.  Let  me  ex- 
plore what  it  is  that  rankles  in  my  breast.  Is  it  a  real,  or 
only  an  imaginary  evil  ?  If  real,  is  there  no  remedy,  no 
consolation  ?"     Such  we  may  suppose  to  have  been  the 


136 


DEPRESSION   IN   AFFLICTION. 


DEPRESSION    IN   AFFLICTION. 


137 


import  of  the  Psalmist's  expostulation  with  himself;  and 
such  investigation,  when  properly  conducted,  will  always 
be  found  productive  of  the  most  beneficial  results  :  it  ena- 
bles us  to  detect  what  is   amiss  ;  to  mark  this  passion  as 
too  violent,  and  that  affection  as  wrong  directed  ;  it  detects 
the  errors  of  judgment  into  which  we  have  fallen,  and  the 
reasons  of  encouragement  which  we  have  overlooked  ;  it 
discovers  to  us   the  evils  which  may  have  rendered  our 
afflictions  necessary,  or  the  blessings  which  they  are  in- 
tended to  produce ;   and,  above  all,  it  directs  us  to  the 
grand  antidote  of  all  distress — hope  in  God.     Would  you 
then,  afflicted  mourner,  obtain  relief  in  your  distress,  ex- 
amine the  matter  coolly,  and  see  what  is  the  cause.     If  it 
be  for  offenses  against  God,  then  weep  and  mourn  on  ac- 
count of  your  offenses.     The  more  you  are  humbled,  the 
.  more  will  your  disposition  agree  with  your  character  as  a 
guilty  creature  :  but  despond  not.     Christ  is  equally  able 
and  willing  to  relieve  you.     He  is  the  enemy  of  sin,  but 
he  is  the  friend  of  sinners.     Cast  thy  burden  upon  the 
Lord,  and  say,  "  Lord,  I  am  oppressed ;  undertake  for  me." 
He  will  not — he  cannot  refuse  thy  application  ;  for  he  hath 
said — he  is  now  saying,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  are 
weary  and  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."     But, 
if  it  be  wholly  on  another  account,  consider  how  inade- 
quate is  the  cause  to  so  violent  an  effect.     What  though 
you  are  afflicted,  though  your  family  be  severely  exercised, 
though  the  objects  of  your  tenderest  affections  are  snatched 
away  in  a  moment,  though  losses  and  disappointments 
attend  you  in  your  worldly  circumstances  ;  are  these  suf- 
ficient reasons  for  being  thus  cast  down  ?    They  would  be, 
if  God  had  not  provided  superior  enjoyments  and  consola- 
tions ;  if  they  were  not  intended  for  ultimate  advantage. 
Whatever  may  fail,  or  change,  or  die,  the  Lord  still  liveth, 
and  "Jesus  Christ   is   the   same   yesterday,  to-day,  and 
for  ever." 


>. 


Reflect  seriously  on  the  sin  of  refusing  to  he  comforted, 
and  on  the  important  duty  of  seeking  relief  immediately  from 
God.     To  want  comfort  is  an  affliction  ;  but  to  refuse  it, 
when  offered,  is  a  sin.     A  time  may  come  w^herein  you 
may  as  vehemently  desire  it  as  you  now  obstinately  refuse 
it.     The  anguish  of  spirit  may,  indeed,  be  too  great  to  ad- 
mit of  comfort  immediately  and  at  once.     David  was  so 
troubled  that  he  could  not  speak  ;  and  the  Israelites  in  the 
wilderness  were  in  such  anguish  that  they  could  not,  for 
a  time,  listen  to  the  overtures  of  Moses  :  "  He  spake  unto 
the  children  of  Israel,  but  they  hearkened  not  unto  him, 
for  anguish  of  spirit,  and  for  cruel  bondage."     But  to  refuse 
comfort  on  purpose  that  grief  may  swell  the  higher ;  to 
feed  your  passions  with  fresh  fuel,  and  to  stir  it  up  with 
aggravating  thoughts;  this  is  the  way  to  increase   your 
sorrows,  and  render  them  the  occasion  of  fresh  sin.    What- 
ever be  the  cause  of  your  depression,  whether  it  originates 
in  contemplating  God  as  an  offended  judge  and  lawgiver, 
or  as  a  father  whose  paternal  character  has  been  trampled 
on,  remember  that  there  is  but  one  effectual  path  out  of 
trouble,  and  that  is  the  path  that  leads  to  God.     This  is 
effectual  to  deliver  us  from  every  sorrow — the  deepest  and 
the  worst.     If  we  catch  at  worldly  things  for  help,  we  shall 
find  them  but  as  straws  that  mock  our  grasp.     If  we  cling 
to  men  around  us,  they  can  hold  us  but  for  a  moment ; 
nay,  perhaps  may  drag  us  down  into  deeper  sorrow.     If 
we   depend  upon    ourselves,   our   strength  is   every  day 
diminishing.     But  if  we  turn  to  God,  in  patience,  in  faith, 
with  all  the  earnestness  of  drowning  agony,  "  Lord,  save, 
or  I  perish,"  he  can,  he  will  deliver  from  the  lowest  deep. 
No  one  ever  cried  unto  God  in  vain.     "  The  Lord  is  a 
refuge  and  strength  ;  a  very  present  help  in  trouble."     It 
always  has  been  so,  and  so  it  always  will  be  to  those  who 
turn  to  him.     Thus  David  found  it  when  he  said,  *'  The 
sorrows  of  death  compassed  me,  and  the  floods  of  ungodly 


138 


DEPRESSION   IN  AFFLICTION. 


men  made  me  afraid :  in  my  distress,  I  called  upon  the 
Lord,  and  cried  unto  my  God ;  he  heard  my  voice  out  of 
his  temple,  and  my  cry  came  before  him,  even  into  his 
ears.     He  sent  from  above ;   he  took  me  ;  he  drew  me 
out  of  many  waters."     So  the   Psalmist   found   it,  when 
he  cried,  "  Deep  calleth  unto  deep  at  the   noise  of  thy 
water-spouts:    all  thy  waves   and   thy  billows  are   gone 
over  me :  yet  the  Lord  will  command  his  loving-kindness 
in  the  daytime,  and  in  the  night  his  song  shall  be  with 
me."     Isaiah  knew  it,  when  he  said  in  the  name  of  God, 
"  When  thou  passest  through  the  waters  I  will  be  with 
thee;    and  through   the  floods,  they  shall   not  overflow 
thee."     But,  do  you  say,  "  I  would  return  to  God,  but  I 
cannot ; — I  have  neglected  him  too  long  to  think  of  turn- 
ing to  him  now ! — my  heart  is  broken,  my  spirit  is  gone, 
my  punishment  is  greater  than  I  can  bear ;  I  have  fallen 
too  low  to  rise  again  ?"     O  recollect  the  Psalmist's  state, 
and  his  escape  from  it.     The  sorrows  of  death  compassed 
him  about,  the  pains  of  hell  gat  hold  of  him  ;  he  found 
trouble  and  sorrow  ;  but  yet  he  called  upon  the  name  of 
the  Lord:    "O  Lord,  I   beseech  thee,  deliver  my  soul." 
There  is  no  condition,  however  wretched,  that  can  hinder 
our  return  to  God  ;  there  is  no  place  of  exile,  however 
distant,  which  is  beyond  the  notice  and  the  help  of  God. 
Go  to  him,  then,  for  help.     Do  not  be  utterly  cast  down ; 
throw  not  away  your   hope  ;    let  your  sorrow  issue   in 
fervent   supplication  to  Him  who  can   and  will    deliver 
you.     Your  first  cry  to  God  will  give  birth  to  another, 
and  every  successive  thought  and  word  of  devotion  will 
take  you  further  from  your  griefs,  and  bring  you  nearer 
to   God ;    will   raise   you  something  out  of  the  horrible 
pit,  and  lift  you  nearer  to  him.     Only  begin.     Only  cry, 
however   feebly   and  imperfectly,   for  help.     "  Before  I 
begin  to  pray,"  said  a  poor,  but  earnest  Christian  woman, 
"  I  seem  frequently  as  if  I  could  not  say  a  word  of  prayer  ; 


DEPRESSION   IN   AFFLICTION. 


139 


but  when  I  have  begun,  I  seem  as  if  I  could  not  leave 
oflf  saying  words  of  prayer."     And  what  is  open  to  one  is 
open  to  all.     O,  if  you  were  but  to  pour  out  your  com- 
plaint to  God  as  you  do  to  men— did  you  but  ask  from 
God  as  you  ask  from  men,  then  would  you  soon  be  able 
to  declare  with  David,  "  I  sought  the  Lord,  and  he  heard 
me,  and  delivered  me  from  all  my  fears."     O,  the  bless- 
edness of  casting  all  our  burden  on  the  Lord !  of  mingling 
the  most  earnest  supplication  with  the  most  quiet  resig- 
nation ;  of  catching  something  of  the  spirit  of  our  divine 
Master,  when  he  exclaimed,  almost  in  the  same  breath, 
"  Father,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me  ;  yet  not  my  will,  but 
thine  be  done  !"     Here  is  the  true  secret  of  contentment, 
patience,  and  fortitude ;   here  is  the  remedy  against  all 
melancholy  thoughts  ;  the  only  support  in  adversity. 

Exercise  yourself  in  meditating  on  the  mercies  which  call 
for  thankfulness,  as  you  have  done  in  dwelling  on  the  afflic- 
tions which  have  occasioned  your  despondency.  The  apostle 
seems  to  enjoin  too  much  when  he  says,  "  In  everything 
give  thanks,"  but  it  is  not  without  reason.  There  is  no  one, 
however  afflicted,  unless  blinded  by  passion  and  unbelief, 
but  may  find  much  more  cause  for  thankfulness  than  for 
despondency.  But  in  affliction  we  are  generally  disposed 
to  look  on  the  dark  side  of  providence,  and  on  that  only. 
We  are  like  froward  children,  who,  if  you  take  away  one 
of  their  playthings,  in  resentment  throw  away  all  the  rest. 
Desponding  Christian,  however  trying  your  condition,  has 
it  no  alleviations  ?  Let  candor— let  gratitude— let  truth 
examine  the  circumstances  of  your  case.  Is  there  nothing 
in  the  time,  or  in  the  manner,  or  in  the  subject  of  your 
affliction,  that  serves  to  soften  its  pressure  ?  Do  you  be- 
lieve that  it  might  not  have  been  worse  ?  Recollect  how 
many  mercies  you  enjoy  at  this  moment.  What  would 
your  sufferings  have  been,  had  God  proportioned  them  to 
your  sins  ?    Though  heavy,  yet  is  it  not  from  the  disposition 


140 


DEPRESSION    IN    AFFLICTION. 


you  are  indulging  that  your  afflictions  derive  their  principal 
weight  and  aggravation  ?  Besides,  they  are  not  immutable 
dispensations.  What  changes  often  take  place,  to  the  sur- 
prise as  well  as  to  the  joy  of  the  desponding  sufferer ! 

"  The  Lord  can  change  the  darkest  skies, 
Can  give  us  day  for  night ; 
Make  drops  of  sacred  pleasure  rise 
To  rivers  of  delight." 

And  who  can  tell  what  advantages  you  may  reap  from  your 
present  trials !  When  a  field  is  newly  ploughed  up,  and 
its  smooth  and  verdant  surface  is  transformed  into  rough, 
unsightly  furrows,  and  its  plants  and  flowers  are  buried 
under  deformed  clods,  the  eye  looks  around  with  regret 
at  the  apparent  destruction  of  its  beauty,  but,  afterward, 
when  harvest  arrives,  when  the  furrows  stand  thick  with 
grain,  and  look  like  a  boundless  sea  of  plenty,  then  the 
scene  yields  inexpressible  delight  to  the  beholder,  and 
welcome  sheaves  to  the  reaper.  Thus  when  God  visits  us 
with  chastisements,  and  makes  long  furrows  in  the  field  of 
our  prosperity,  we  mourn  and  repine  that  he  should  deface 
the  beauty  of  our  condition,  but  afterward,  when  the  seed 
he  casts  into  these  furrows  springs  up,  and  overspreads  the 
soul  with  all  the  beauties  of  holiness  and  peace,  then  the 
wisdom  and  goodness  of  God  are  alike  apparent. 

Meditate  much  upon  the  amazing  love  of  God  in  the  gift, 
and  sufferings,  and  death  of  his  Son.  It  is  but  reasonable 
that  you  should  meditate  as  much  upon  Christ  and  grace, 
as  you  do  upon  sin  and  misery.  God  requireth  you  to  see 
and  feel  your  sin  and  miser>',  but  then  it  is  in  order  that 
you  may  magnify  the  remedy,  and  cordially  embrace  it. 
Never  think  of  sin  and  hell  alone,  but  in  order  to  induce 
you  to  think  of  Christ  and  grace.  This  is  the  duty  even 
of  the  worst.  Are  your  sins  ever  before  you  ?  why  is  not 
pardoning  grace  in  Christ  before  you  ?     Is  hell  open  before 


DEPRESSION    IN    AFFLICTION. 


141 


you  1  why  is  not  the  Redeemer  also  before  you  ?  Do  you 
reply,  Because  sin  and  hell  are  mine,  but  Christ,  and  holi- 
ness, and  heaven,  are  not  mine  ?  Then  it  is  because  you 
choose  to  have  it  so.  It  is  true  God  hath  placed  death 
before  you,  but  he  hath  placed  life  the  first,  and  commands 
you  to  choose  life  that  you  may  live.  Nothing  can  be 
more  certain  than  that  God  hath  so  far  made  over  the 
blessings  of  salvation  to  all  that  hear  the  gospel,  that  no- 
thing but  their  final  obstinate  refusal  of  these  blessings  can 
cause  their  condemnation.  Beware,  lest  you  reject  that 
mercy  which  God  never  denied  to  any  one,  and  which,  so 
far  from  refusing,  he  is  now  offering  to  you. 


142 


THE   DUTIES   OF   THOSE   WHO   HAVE 


THE    DUTIES    OF   THOSE   WHO   HAVE    BEEN 
DELIVERED  FROM  AFFLICTION. 

My  soul,  through  my  Redeemer'a  care, 
;  Saved  from  the  second  death  I  feel, 

My  eyes  from  tears  of  dark  despair, 
My  feet  from  falling  into  hell. 

Wherefore  to  him  my  feet  shall  run, 

My  eyes  on  his  perfections  gaze, 
My  soul  shall  live  for  God  alone, 

And  all  within  me  shout  his  praise. 

LL  I  RENDER  UNTO  THE  LORD  FOR  ALL  HIS  BENEFITS 

ER  TO  THEE   THE    SACRIFICE  OF  THANKSGIVING.    AND 
"^  NAME  OF  THE  LORD."— Psalm  cxvi,  12,  17. 

In  a  former  chapter  directions  were  given  for  a  proper 
behavior  in  affliction,  that  the  end  may  be  secured  for 
which  it  was  appointed  by  our  heavenly  Father :  the  fol- 
lowing counsels  are  intended  to  illustrate  the  temper  and 
conduct  which  we  ought  to  cherish  and  maintain  after  we 
have  experienced  a  deliverance  from  affliction. 

Let  your  deliverance  he  acknowledged  by  fervent  gratitude 
and  thanksgiving  to  God.  It  is  the  direction  of  the  apos- 
tle, that  "  in  everything"  we  should  "  give  thanks  ;"  that 
we  should  endeavor  to  maintain  in  our  hearts  a  constant 
feeling  of  religious  gratitude,  and  be  ready  to  express  our 
gratitude  with  our  lips.  There  are,  perhaps,  few  occasions 
which  call  more  loudly  upon  us  for  such  feeling,  and  for 
such  expressions  of  thankfulness,  than  when  we  are  de- 
livered from  some  great  and  piercing  calamity  ;  therefore, 
says  David,  "  Offer  unto  God  thanksgiving,  and  pay  thy 
vows  unto  the  Most  High."  That  your  mind  may  be  suit- 
ably impressed  with  a  sense  of  God's  goodness  in  your 
deliverance,  call  to  mind  the  circumstances  of  your  afflic- 


BEEN    DELIVERED  FROM  AFFLICTION. 


143 


' 


tion  ;  think  of  the  pains  you  endured  in  sickness,  the  bitter 
apprehensions  you  had  of  death  ;  think  how  great  was 
your  distress — how  pressing  your  difficulties — how  gloomy 
your  apprehensions — how  great  and  merciful  your  deliver- 
ance. In  the  removal  of  your  affliction  be  careful  to 
acknowledge  the  hand  of  God.  Stop  not  at  the  instru- 
mentality of  second  causes.  Whosoever  is  the  instrument 
of  any  good,  yet  salvation  is  of  the  Lord.  Whoever  brings 
it,  it  is  he  who  sends  it.  Though  he  is  pleased  to  use  the 
intervention  of  means,  yet  he  administers  these  means, 
and  renders  them  effectual,  otherwise  they  would  be  wholly 
unavailing.  As  God  sends  affliction  to  evidence  his  power, 
wisdom,  and  sovereignty ;  so  he  sends  deliverance  to  mani- 
fest his  goodness  and  bounty,  and  the  return  which  he  ex- 
pects is  most  equitable  and  reasonable.  "  Call  upon  me 
in  the  day  of  trouble :  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt 
glorify  me."  Seek  to  have  a  proper  view  of  your  own 
unworthiness,  and  of  the  favors  you  have  received.  Think 
not  that  it  is  the  result  of  your  own  merit,  or  that  you  are 
delivered  because  the  sufferings  you  have  endured  have 
expiated  your  guilt.  The  greatest  affliction  under  heaven 
cannot  possibly  atone  for  one  transgression.  Nothing  but 
the  blood  of  the  Son  of  God  can  countervail  the  weight 
of  the  least  sin  against  the  Most  High.  "  I  am  not  worthy," 
said  Jacob,  "  of  the  least  of  all  the  mercies,  and  of  all  the 
truth  which  thou  hast  showed  unto  thy  servant."  Here  is 
not  a  word  or  thought  of  merit,  as  though  by  his  faith,  or  obe- 
dience, or  affliction,  he  could  prefer  a  claim  to  the  mercies 
he  had  received.  No,  the  mind  of  the  real  saint  revolts 
at  the  thought.  The  conviction  of  his  sinfulness  and  utter 
demerit  is  too  deeply  riveted  in  his  heart.  He  feels  him- 
self, from  first  to  last,  the  absolute  debtor  of  divine  grace ; 
less  than  the  least  of  all  the  mercy  and  truth  he  has  ex- 
perienced ;  unworthy  of  the  very  crumbs  falling  from  that 
table  at  which  he  has  been  so  plentifully  supplied,  inas- 


144 


THE   DUTIES   OF   THOSE   WHO  HAVE 


much  as  lie  has  forfeited  every  blessing  by  his  transgres- 
sions.  Observe  everything  that  has  been  special  in  your 
deliverance.  The  suitableness  of  your  gratitude  will  de- 
pend upon  the  estimate  you  form  of  the  mercy  you  have 
received.  A  truly  thankful  mind  will  not  content  itself 
with  a  general  view  of  the  Lord's  goodness,  but  will  search 
out  its  most  remarkable  expressions,  and  all  the  circum- 
stances by  which  it  has  been  rendered  illustrious.  As  an 
artist,  when  contemplating  some  rare  and  beautiful  paint- 
ing, marks,  with  delighted  feeling,  the  correctness  of  its 
proportions,  the  richness  of  its  coloring,  the  delicacy  of  its 
tints,  the  accuracy  of  its  delineations,  and  the  sublimity  of 
its  design  ;  so  ought  you  to  review  the  circumstances  of 
your  deliverance  from  affliction.  Reflect,  how  evidently 
the  Lord's  hand  was  in  your  deliverance,  so  that  you  were 
constrained  to  say,  "This  is  the  Lord's  doing;  it  is  mar- 
velous  in  our  eyes."  Consider,  also,  how  deliverance 
came  to  you  in  answer  to  prayer ;  how  it  came  when  there 
was  but  little  ground  for  hope  ;  how  the  extremity  of  your 
distress  was  God's  opportunity  of  sending  relief.  By  re- 
flections of  this  nature  you  are  to  endeavor  to  awaken  in 
your  heart  gratitude  and  praise. 

Be  careful  to  remember  and  fulfill  the  engagements  and 
vows  into  which  you  have  entered  in  time  of  affliction. 
There  are  many  things  that  concur  in  time  of  trouble  to 
excite  within  us  desires  and  purposes  of  amendment.  At 
such  a  time  we  are  frequently  inclined  to  make  vows  to 
God,  and  to  bind  our  souls  with  resolutions  to  mortify  sin, 
to  be  more  diligent  in  duty,  and  to  follow  Christ  with 
greater  steadfastness  and  zeal.  When  this  is  done  with 
sincerity,  with  dependence  upon  divine  aid,  and  under  the 
influence  of  correct  views,  not  as  an  equivalent  for  the 
favor  of  God,  or  as  the  condition  of  our  deliverance,  but 
only  as  a  preparation  for  receiving  the  tokens  of  his  favor, 
it  will  be  found  a  useful  means  of  promoting  the  great  end 


— jg-  * 


BEEN   DELIVERED   FROM  AFFLICTION. 


145 


which  aflliclion  is  intended  to  accomplish.  Thus  David 
did :  "  I  will  pay  thee  my  vows,  which  my  lips  have 
uttered,  and  my  mouth  hath  spoken,  when  I  was  in  trouble." 
Thus  Hannah  did :  "  And  she  vowed  a  vow,  and  said,  O 
Lord  of  hosts,  if  thou  wilt  indeed  look  on  the  affliction  of 
thine  handmaid,  and  remember  me,  and  not  forget, thine 
handmaid,  but  wilt  give  unto  thine  handmaid  a  male  child, 
then  I  will  give  him  unto  the  Lord  all  the  days  of  his  life, 
and  there  shall  no  razor  come  upon  his  head."  The  mo- 
tives to  seriousness,  however,  which  are  induced  by  afflic- 
tion, are  usually  soon  erased  by  the  return  of  prosperity, 
and  are  succeeded  by  temptations  to  lukewarmness  and 
forgetfulness.  Delay  not,  therefore,  to  pay  the  vows  you 
have  made  in  the  time  of  trouble.  Seize  the  first  opportu- 
nity for  the  purpose.  Delays,  in  this  case,  are  sure  to  be 
dangerous.  Solomon  was  aware  of  this,  and  therefore  he 
directs,  "  When  thou  vowest  a  vow  unto  God,  defer  not 
to  pay  it." 

Have  you  been  the  subject  of  affliction,  and  have  you 
experienced  delivering  mercy  ?  Recollect  what  were  your 
views  and  purposes  in  your  trouble,  and  endeavor  to  have 
those  views  and  resolutions  perpetuated  and  confirmed. 
Were  you  convinced  o(  the  evil  nature  and  fatal  conse- 
quences of  sin  ?  Call  to  mind  your  feelings  in  those 
interesting  and  a  fleeting  moments.  Did  nor  anguish  and 
horror  take  hold  upon  you  ?  Did  you  not  see  sin  to  be  the 
*'  abominable  thing"  which  God  hateth,  and  the  wages  of 
it  to  be  death  ?  Did  you  not  exclaim  against  the  folly,  the 
infatuation,  by  which  you  have  been  led  to  commit  it? 
Reflecting  upon  your  transgressions,  aggravated  by  know- 
ledge, and  by  obligations  the  most  tender  and  awful,  were 
you  not  ready  to  conclude  that  your  case  was  hopeless  ? 
And  wh<;n,  at  length,  you  were  encouraged  to  approach 
and  to  address  a  God  you  had  provoked,  was  not  this  your 
language,  "  Cast  me  not  away  from  thy  presence  ;    and 

7 


146 


THE    DUTIES  OF   THOSE  WHO   HAVE 


take  not  thy  Holy  Spirit  from  me.  Restore  unto  me  the 
joy  of  thy  salvation  ;  and  uphold  me  with  thy  free  Spirit. 
Then  will  I  teach  transgressors  thy  ways  ;  and  sinners 
shall  be  converted  unto  thee.  Open  thou  my  lips  ;  Eind 
my  mouth  shall  show  forth  thy  praise."  Cry  to  God,  then, 
for  strength  to  fulfill  your  engagements.  The  Psalmist 
took  this  course,  and  found  it  successful.  "  In  the  day 
when  I  cried  unto  thee  thou  answeredst  me,  and  strength- 
enedst  me  with  strength  in  my  soul."  Put  away  all  in- 
iquity. When  assailed  by  the  persuasions  of  the  wicked, 
or  by  the  solicitations  of  the  tempter,  turn  from  them  with 
the  pious  abhorrence  of  Joseph,  "  How  can  I  do  this  great 
wickedness,  and  sin  against  God  ?" 

What  were  your  views  of  the  world  ?  How  vain  and 
comfortless  it  then  appeared !  how  unworthy  and  unsuita- 
ble to  be  the  portion  of  the  soul !  how  unable  to  contribute 
to  your  most  urgent  wants,  or  to  promote  your  most  import- 
ant interests  !  Thus  the  favor  of  God  was  more  in  your 
estimation  than  life  itself ;  and  you  promised  that  thence- 
forward you  would  renounce  the  world,  and  live  to  God 
alone.  Then  keep  alive  in  your  heart  the  same  apprehen- 
sion of  things  after  trouble  that  you  had  in  it.  Guard 
against  relapsing,  in  the  smallest  degree,  into  your  former 
worldliness.  Remember,  that  "  if  any  man  love  the  world, 
the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him."  You  "  cannot  serve 
God  and  mammon." 

What  were  your  views  of  death  ?  Did  it  appear  a  trifle 
— a  thing  to  be  sported  with  ?  O,  no !  its  approach  filled 
you  with  fear  and  trembling.  To  think  of  dying  was  awful 
and  affecting.  To  take  a  final  leave  of  earth  ;  to  bid  fare- 
well to  friends  ;  to  feel  pain  of  body,  and  remorse  of  con- 
science ;  to  contemplate  an  opening  eternity,  and  to  find 
the  Judge  standing  before  the  door,  all  made  you  exclaim, 
**  O  spare  me,  that  I  may  recover  strength,  before  I  go 
hence,  and  be  no  more  I"     You  assumed  the  appearance 


BEEN   DELIVERED  FROM   AFFLICTION. 


147 


of  penitence  ;  you  promised,  if  spared,  to  devote  yourself 
to  the  service  of  God.  Your  prayer  has  been  heard. 
God  has  brought  you  back  from  the  gates  of  the  grave. 
But  have  you  fulfilled  your  vows  ?  Consider  how  sad 
will  be  your  condition  if  sickness  find  you  again  in  the 
very  same  state.  What  will  you  say  to  conscience  when 
it  shall  confront  you  ?  How  will  you  meet  the  king  of 
terrors,  if,  in  spite  of  your  purposes  of  amendment  and  devo- 
tedness  to  God,  you  are  surprised,  at  the  last,  in  the  indul- 
gence of  the  very  sins  you  formerly  mourned  over,  and 
bound  yourself  to  renounce  ? 

Recall  your  views  of  time.  How  important  and  valuable 
it  appeared,  as  it  was  viewed  by  you  in  connection  with 
an  awful  and  never-ending  eternity !  Then,  when  you  could 
scarcely  hope  for  another  hour,  you  exclaimed,  "  A  world 
for  another  week,  in  which  to  prepare  for  a  future  state ! 
O  for  another  sabbath  in  which  to  worship  God  in  his 
sanctuary,  and  to  listen  to  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation ! 
O  for  time  to  make  my  peace  with  heaven !"  And  what 
a  trouble  it  was  to  you,  to  look  and  see  how  much  you  had 
spent  in  sin  and  folly!  Then  so  fully  was  your  mind 
impressed  with  the  value  of  time,  that  you  were  ready  to 
think,  that  though  you  had  Methuselah's  years  to  live,  it 
would  be  unreasonable  to  misspend  one  hour  of  them  all. 
And  now,  that  health  is  restored,  can  you  be  so  foolish  as 
to  trifle  away  time  as  before?  Can  you  squander  your 
precious  hours  in  folly  and  negligence  ;  and,  in  forgetful- 
ness  of  your  vows  and  protestations,  relapse  into  your 
former  habits  ?  Take  heed  that  this  be  not  the  case.  In 
every  instance  endeavor  to  show  your  thankfulness  to  God 
for  all  the  benefits  he  hath  conferred  upon  you,  by  con- 
stantly remembering  and  striving  to  act  up  to  the  resolutions 
you  formed  in  the  time  of  your  distress  ;  so  shall  you  have 
abundant  reason  to  say,  "  It  was  good  for  me  to  be  afflict- 
ed ;"  and  so  shall  your  chastening,  however  grievous  it 


148 


THE   DUTIES   OF   THOSE   WHO   HAVE 


might  seem  at  the  time,  be  made  instrumental  in  working 
in  you  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righteousness. 

Beware  of  forgetting  the  deliverance  you  have  experienced. 
The  influence  of  impressive  scenes  soon  wears  away. 
We  are  .prone  to  lose  the  sense  of  our  mercies,  and  all  the 
fine  religious  feelings  they  once  produced.  Gratitude  is, 
without  question,  a  most  lovely  virtue  ;  but  it  seldom  lives 
in  the  extremes  either  of  adversity  or  success ;  it  is  like 
those  fine  colors  which  storms  and  sunshine  equally  deface. 
How  strongly  were  the  Israelites  impressed  for  a  time  by 
the  interposition  of  God  in  their  behalf!  They  sung  his 
praises  ;  they  resolved  to  distrust  him  no  more  ;  they  said, 
''  All  that  the  Lord  hath  spoken  will  we  do."  But  they 
soon  forgot  his  works,  and  the  wonders  which  he  had 
showed  them;  murmured  again;  rebelled  again.  Their 
mercies  were  written  on  the  sand,  and  the  first  wave  of 
trouble  that  arose  washed  them  away.  Hence  David  lays 
an  embargo  on  his  thoughts,  "  Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul, 
and  forget  not  all  his  benefits !"  Hence  it  was  usual  for 
saints,  under  the  Old  Testament  dispensation,  to  set  up 
some  visible  monument  to  commemorate  the  mercies  they 
had  received.  They  erected  stones,  or  built  altars,  that 
they  might  serve  as  remembrances  of  the  deliverances  they 
had  experienced.  Thus  "Samuel  took  a  stone,  and  set 
it  between  Mizpeh  and  Shem ;  and  called  the  name  of  it 
Ebenezer ;  saying,  'Hitherto  hath  the  Lord  helped  us.'" 
And  thus  Joseph,  by  the  very  names  which  he  gave  to  his 
children,  would  recall  the  wonders  which  the  Lord  had 
shown  him.  "  Joseph  called  the  name  of  the  first-born 
Manasseh  ;  for  God,  said  he,  hath  made  me  forget  all  my 
toil,  and  all  my  father's  house.  And  the  name  of  the  second 
called  he  Ephraim,  for  God  hath  caused  me  to  be  fruitful 
in  the  land  of  my  aflliction."  And  hence  the  command 
given  to  Ephraim,  "  Set  thee  up  waymarks ;  make  thee 
high  heaps  ;  set  thine  heart  toward  the  highway,  even  the 


BEEN   DELIVERED   EROM   AFFLICTION. 


149 


way  which  thou  wentest:  turn  again,  O  virgin  daughter 
of  Israel,  turn  again  to  these  thy  cities."     A  faithful  recol- 
lection is  of  great  importance  to  the  Christian.     Nothing 
can  impress  or  influence  our  minds  when  it  is  forgotten. 
We  should,  therefore,  keep  our  afliictions  and  our  deliver- 
ances fresh  in  our  recollection,  that  we  may  know  whether 
we   have  rendered  according  to  the   benefits  conferred. 
How  much  of  our  insensibility  ^nd  ingratitude  springs  from 
forgetfulness  and  inattention !  and  how  well  may  it  be  said 
of  thousands,  as  it  was  of  Israel,  "  Of  the  rock  that  begat 
thee  thou  art  unmindful,  and  hast  forgotten  God  that  formed 
thee !"     As  it  is  so  necessary  to  keep  things  in  mind,  it 
would  be  well  for  you,  in  every  possible  way,  to  aid  recol- 
lection, and  to  endeavor  to  perpetuate  those  good  feelings 
which  your  mercies    produce   when   you   receive   them. 
With  this  view  mention  them  often ;  call  them  to  mind ; 
strive  frequently  to  stir  up  your  minds  by  way  of  remem- 
brance.    What  can  be  more  displeasing-to  God  than  for- 
getfulness of  the  deliverances  he  hath  shown  you  1     Even 
a  heathen  could  say,  "  He  is  ungrateful  who  falsely  denies 
a   benefit,   and  he   who  refuses  to  requite  it;    but  most 
ungrateful  of  all  is  he  who  forgets  it." 

Study  to  improve  the  deliverance  you  have  experienced^  hy 
securing  the  end  for  which  you  have  been  afflicted.  We  can 
conceive  of  very  diflferent  ends  which  are  required  by  the 
diflercnt  circumstances  of  the  afliicted.  Is  the  afllicted, 
one  who  has  neglected  God  and  his  service  ?  the  end  of 
his  aflliction  is,  doubtless,  to  bring  him  to  repentance ;  to 
humble  him  under  a  sense  of  his  sin ;  and  to  reclaim  him 
from  it.  Is  he  a  professor  of  religion,  who  has  not  felt 
its  power,  but  has  been  dead  while  he  lived  ?  the  end  of 
his  aflfliction  is  to  bring  him  to  feel  the  necessity  of  decision, 
and  how  unavailing  is  the  form  of  godliness  when  not 
accompanied  by  the  power  thereof.  Is  he  a  wayward 
child  of  God,  whose  conduct  requires  correction  1  or  is  he 


150 


THE   DUTIES   OF  THOSE    WHO   HAVE 


one  whose  sincerity  must  be  tried  and  whose  faith  and 
patience  must  be  put  to  the  test  ?  or  is  he  one  whose  easy 
circumstances  have  attached  him  too  much  to  the  world, 
and  rendered  it  necessary  that  his  repose  should  be  dis- 
turbed, and  that  his  attention  should  be  recalled  to  heavenly 
joys,  by  imbittering  his  earthly  comforts  ?  All  these  cases 
include  the  end  of  affliction.  This  end,  therefore,  directly 
or  indirectly,  has  been  the  design  of  yours.  Whatever 
has  been  your  distress,  behold  the  object  which  He  pro- 
posed who  brought  the  trouble  upon  you.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  immediate  object,  this  was  his  ultimate  aim. 
How  important  in  itself!  bow  worthy  of  God!  howdesirable 
to  yourself !  All  your  happiness  is  involved  in  it.  Now  it  is 
the  duty  of  every  one  who  has  been  delivered  from  affliction, 
to  inquire  how  far  he  has  been  benefited  by  it,  and  by  what 
means  the  design  of  it  may  be  fully  accomplished.  It  is 
too  true,  that  in  some  cases  the  operation  of  affliction  is 
just  the  reverse  of  that  which  was  intended.  The  mind 
is  brought  by  its  suffering  into  a  worse  state  than  before. 
The  heart  is  hardened,  and  obedience  to  God  is  rendered 
more  improbable  from  the  hard  thoughts  entertained  of  him, 
and  the  rebellious  spirit  indulged:  like  iron,  which  acquires 
increasing  hardness  from  being  often  heated,  and  quenched 
in  water.  In  these  cases  we  see  at  once  the  crime  and  the 
calamity  of  sinners.  They  abuse  to  the  most  awful  pur- 
poses what  was  capable  of  yielding  the  richest  advantages. 
They  rebel  against  the  government  of  God ;  they  add  in- 
sult to  provocation ;  and  increase  their  sufferings  in  the  most 
fearful  manner,  by  adding  eternal  misery  to  mortal  pains. 
Do  you  dread  this  conduct  ?  but  how  far  have  you  shown 
the  sincerity  of  your  fears  by  avoiding  every  approach  to 
it,  and  by  endeavoring  to  secure  the  end  of  your  affliction  ? 
In  what  respects  are  you  the  better  for  what  you  have 
endured  ?  have  you  been  led  to  look  back  upon  your  former 
life,  and  to  search  out  the  occasions  there  might  bo  for 


BEEN    DELIVERED   FROM   AFFLICTION. 


151 


such  a  visitation  1     Be  assured,  when  God  afflicts,  it  is  not 
without  a  cause.     Try,  then,  to  find  out  the  cause,  and  pray 
that  the  design  of  our  heavenly  Father  may  be  fully  accom- 
plished.    Afflictions  benefit  us,  only  when  they  check  our 
pride  and  vanity  ;  when  they  strengthen  our  faith  ;  when 
they  enliven  our  zeal ;  when  they  revive  our  hope  and  joy ; 
when  they  diminish  the  influence  of  present  things  ;  when 
they  quicken  the   wheels   of  Christian   obedience;    and 
prompt  us  to  a  more  uninterrupted  communion  with   our 
God.     Have  you  reflected  upon  the  goodness  of  God  in 
sending  the  trial,  and  thus  turning  your  thoughts  to  your 
spiritual  state  ?     Have  you  considered  what  your  condi- 
tion might  have  been,  if,  instead  of  deliverance,  God  had 
called  you  suddenly  away  by  death,  when  you  were  slum- 
bering at  your  ease,  instead  of  being  in  a  state  of  readiness 
for  the  Bridegroom's  approach  ?    God  has  been  administer- 
ing affliction  in  the  form  of  a  remedy,  and  now  that  it  is 
over,  he  is  waiting  to  see«vhat  good  effects  it  has  produced  ; 
what  changes  it  has  wrought  in  the  thoughts,  affections, 
and  purposes  of  your  heart ;  how  far  it  has  detached  you 
from  the  world,  and  promoted  your  spirituality,  and  your 
earnestness  in  the  pursuit  of  heavenly  things  ;  how  much 
more  circumspect  and  watchful  of  your  ways  you  will  bo 
for  the  time  to  come ;  and  how  heartily  you  will  apply 
yourself,  on  the  one  hand,  to  root  out  the  evils  of  your 
nature,  and,  on  the  other,  to  attain  the  Christian  graces  and 
virtues  in  which  you  are  deficient.     In  short,  God  has  in 
mercy  given  you  a  new  life,  and  he  is  now  waiting  to 
see  whether  you  will  become  a  new  man. 

Efideavor  to  glorify  God,  hy  rendering  the  deliverance 
you  have  experienced  promotive  of  the  spiritual  good  of 
others.  In  the  anticipation  of  his  full  recovery  from  the 
effects  of  sin,  our  Lord  said  to  Peter,  "  When  thou  art 
converted,  strengthen  thy  brethren."  The  direction  is  no 
less  appropriate  to  those  who  have  been  recovered  from 


152 


THE    DUTIES   OF   THOSE   WHO   HAVE 


affliction.     Various  are  the  ways  in  which  the  disciple, 
who    has    been   favored    in    his    distresses   with    special 
mercies,  may  strengthen  his  brethren.     He  may  do  it  by 
communicating  his  experience  of  the  divine  aid  and  kind- 
ness.    How  animating  will  it  be  to  them  to  be  told  of  the 
effectual  support  you  received  in  your  distresses  ;  of  the 
gracious  visitations  of  the  divine  presence  by  which  you 
were  comforted  and  strengthened  ;  of  the  consolations  you 
have  received  in  the  house  of  mourning  ;  and  of  the  many 
rich  and  important  benefits  you  have  derived  from  some  of 
your  greatest  trials  !     It  may  be  mortifying  to  you,  but  still 
it  may  be  useful  to  them  to  state,  where  prudence  sanctions 
it,  what  mischiefs  have  arisen  from  confidence  in  your- 
selves, from  remissness  in  secret  devotion  ;  and  from  the 
influence  of  the  worid  in  engrossing  your  cares,  in  chilling 
your  affections,  in  impairing  your  relish  for  spiritual  en- 
joyments, and  in  calling  forth  the  chastenings  of  the  divine 
hand.     You  may  strengthen  your  brethren,  too,  by  nar- 
rating the  manner  in  which  your  afflictions  have  operated 
for  your  good  ;  how  they  induced  reflection  and  prayer, 
humiliation  and  penitence  ;  how  faith  was  acknowledged, 
and   prayer  answered  ;  how  by  your  affliction  you  have 
been  led  to  a  closer  union  with  Christ,  and  a  more  intimate 
acquaintance  with  his   love,  and  faithfulness,  and  truth. 
You   are  bound   to  act  thus   by  the   command  of   God: 
"Strengthen  ye  the  weak  hands,  and  confirm  the  feeble 
knees.     Say  to  them  that  are  of  a  feeble  heart,  Be  strong, 
fear  not ;  behold   your  God  will  come  with  vengeance, 
even  God  with  a  recompense  ;    he  will  come  and  save 
you."     This  is  a  fit  expression   of  gratitude  to  Him  who 
hath  restored  your  soul,  and  it  is  an  expression  which  he 
values.     A  truly  thankful  mind  will  not  content  itself  with 
mere  verbal  praise  and  acknowledgments,  but  will  study 
and  endeavor  to  find  out,  and  to  do  all  that  may  be  wel 
pleasing  to  his  great  Benefactor.     When  will  a  generous 


BEEN  DELIVERED   FROM  AFFLICTION. 


153 


man  feel  the  most  pleasure  in  the  bounty  by  which  he  hath 
relieved  a  fellow-creature  from  poverty,  and  placed  him  in 
ease  and  comfort?     It  will  be  not  only  when  he  witnesses 
the  happiness  which  has  succeeded  to  anxiety  and  despair, 
but,  also,  when  the  benefited  individual  shows  himself 
anxious  to  do  good  to  the  afflicted  beside  him.     Thus  God 
rejoices  in  the  influences  of  his  grace.     This,  too,  is  one 
of  the  most  useful  forms  of  Christian  charity ; — it  is  charity 
to  the  soul ;  charity  to  the  afflicted,  the  tried,  the  mourn- 
ing, the  discouraged.     Think  how  assiduously  the  wicked 
labor  to  seduce  others  to  sin ;  with  what  art,  and  subtilty, 
and  perseverance,  they  try  to  overcome  their  scruples,  to 
corrupt  their   principles,   to  repress    their   fears,   and   to 
awaken  their  prejudices.     And  shall  they  be  more  active 
to  prevent  than  we  are  to  establish  ?  to  corrupt,  than  we 
are  to  sanctify  1  to  ruin,  than  we  are  to  save  ?     Besides, 
the  discharge  of  this  duty  is  the  best  way  to  your  own 
establishment   in   every  good  word   and    work.      Every 
warning  you  give  will  operate  on  your  own  fears,  and 
every  oncouragemcnt  on  your  hopes.     It  is  the  promise 
of  God,  "  He  that  watereth  others  shall  be  watered  also 
himself."     This   duty  is  recommended  to  you  by  many 
examples.     To  Job  this  honorable  testimony  was  borne 
by  his  friends :  "  Behold  thou  hast  instructed  many,  and 
thou  hast  strengthened  the  weak  hands ;  thy  words  have 
upheld  him  that  was  falling,  and  thou  hast  strengthened 
the  feeble  knees."     We  read  of  ApoUos  helping  "  them 
much  who  had  believed  through  grace."      In   this    way 
your  afflictions  will  be  productive  of  a  twofold  advantage, 
not  only  will  you  reap  from  the  peaceable  fruits  of  right- 
eousness, in  the  increase  of  your  own  personal  piety,  but 
they  will  promote  your  usefulness  to  others,  and  thus,  "  the 
blessing   of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish"  shall  come 
upon  you. 


154 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF   CHRIST   IX   AFFLICTION. 


THE  PRECIOUSNESS  OF  CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION. 

Yes,  thou  art  precious  to  my  soul, 

My  transport  aud  my  trust ; 
Jewels,  to  thee,  are  gaudy  toys, 

And  gold  is  sordid  dust. 

All  my  capacious  powers  can  boast, 

In  thee  most  richly  meet ; 
Nor  to  my  eyes  is  light  so  dear, 

Or  friendship  half  so  sweet. 

"  HOW  GREAT  IS  HIS  GOODNESS,  AND  HOW  GREAT  IS  HIS  BEAUTY  !"— 
Zccharinh  ix,  19. 

Contemplation  of  the  Saviour's  excellences  is  a  prin- 
cipal means  of  invigorating  the  life  of  faith,  and  hope,  and 
love,  as  well  as  of  supporting  the  mind  under  the  pressure 
of  affliction.  "Looking  unto  Jesus"  is  a  direction  of  in- 
calculable importance.  On  this  subject  an  able  writer 
remarks :  "In  this  present  '  beholding  of  the  glory  of 
Christ,'  the  life  and  power  of  faith  are  most  eminently 
acted.  And  from  the  exercise  of  faith,  love  to  Christ  prin- 
cipally, if  not  solely,  arises  and  springs..  If,  therefore,  we 
desire  to  have  faith  in  its  vigor,  or  love  in  its  power,  giving 
rest,  complacency,  and  satisfaction  to  our  souls,  we  are  to 
seek  for  them  in  the  diligent  discharge  of  this  duty  ;  else- 
where they  will  not  be  found.  Herein  would  I  live ; 
herein  would  I  die ;  herein  would  I  dwell  in  all  my  thoughts 
and  affections  ;  to  the  withering  and  consuming  of  all  the 
painted  beauties  of  this  world,  to  the  crucifying  of  all 
things  here  below,  until  they  become  to  me  a  dead  and 
deformed  thing,  no  ways  suitable  for  affectionate  em- 
braces." Next  to  prayer,  nothing,  perhaps,  is  so  much 
adapted  to  promote  the  exercise  of  faith,  and  to  kindle  the 
affections  into  holy  fervor,  as  frequent  meditation  on  the 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 


155 


person  and  offices,  the  love  and  sufferings,  of  the  Lord 
Jesus.     Meditation  is  to  all  these  truths  what  the  opened 
eye  is  to  the  light ;  it  admits  them  into  the  understanding 
as  objects  of  knowledge,  and  it  applies  them  to  the  soul 
for  the  promotion  of  its  hope  and  joy.     Where  communion 
with  Christ  is  not  sought  by  frequent  and  devout  medita- 
tion, faith  will  decline  in  its  exercise,  love  will  languish 
in  the  heart,  joy  in  him  will  be  almost  a  stranger  to  the 
soul,  and,  if  we  are  in   circumstances  of  affliction,  our 
strength  will  be  small ;  we  shall  faint  in  the  day  of  adver- 
sity.    Meditation  gives  life  and  vigor  to  faith,  and  it  is 
faith  which  makes  the  Saviour  precious,  and  inspires  the 
soul  with  holy  joy.     "  To  them  that  believe,"  says   an 
apostle,  «  he  is  precious."     It  is  by  faith  we  realize  our 
interest  in  him  as  a  Saviour ;  and  when  an  assurance  is 
possessed  that  we  have  a  part  in  all  the  blessings  of  his 
love,  and  all  the  riches  of  his  grace,  this  leads  the  believer 
to  prize  him,  to  rejoice  in  him.     Is  he  my  Saviour,  my 
refuge,  my  guide,  my  protector  1  then  all  I  have  beside  is 
mean  compared  with  him.     "  None  but  Christ,"  said  the 
martyr ;  "  None  but  Christ,"  responds  the  Christian. 

"  Jesus,  my  all  in  all  thou  art ; 

My  rest  in  toil ;  my  ease  in  pain ; 
The  med'cine  of  my  broken  heart ; 

In  war  my  peace ;  in  loss  my  gain ; 
In  grief  my  joy  unspeakable ; 

My  life  in  death ;  my  heaven  in  hell." 

Christian  sufferer,  that  feelings  like  these  may  inspire 
your  heart,  let  your  mind  dwell  with  steadfast  meditation 
on  the  excellences  of  Jesus.  Avail  yourself  of  every  ap- 
pointed means  to  aid  you  in  holding  communion  with  him. 
Implore  the  Spirit's  help,  that  you  may  behold  your  Lord 
in  all  his  glory,  as  it  is  displayed  in  his  own  word.  Let 
the  exercise  of  faith  accompany  all  your  efforts :  then  will 


156  PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTIOX. 

its  enlivening,  elevating  power  be  felt ;  then  will  you  rise 
above  the  depressing  influence  of  your  sorrows ;  your 
affections  will  be  kindled  into  holy  fervor,  your  heart  will 
overflow  with  consolation,  and  you  will  learn  to  "  count  all 
things  but  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  .Jesus  your  Lord."  With  the  view  of  aiding  your 
meditations,  I  would  place  before  you  some  of  the  par- 
ticulars which  render  him  precious  in  Christian  pstimation, 
and  especially  in  time  of  affliction. 

Contemplate  the  cUgnUy  of  his  person.     The  proper  di- 
vinity  of  the  Saviour  is  a  subject  most  luminously  revealed 
m  the  word  of  God.     It  is  written   as  with  a  sunbeam. 
Upon  this  doctrine   the  whole   system  of  Christianity  is 
built.     It  is  intimately  connected  with  all  that  is  cheering 
in  the  gospel.     It  constitutes  the  very  foundation  of  the 
sinner's  hope  and  joy.     If  the  divinity  of  Christ  be  denied, 
no  place  remains  for  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement ;  and 
take  away  the  doctrine  of  the  atonement,  and  there  remains 
no  solid  ground  of  encouragement  for  a  guilty  world  ;  and 
the  awakened  sinner  is  left  to  encounter  all  the   fearful 
consequences  of  his  guilt,  without  one  single  ray  of  hope 
to  beam  on   his  benighted  soul.     How  dangerous  must 
every  error  be  which  is  in  the  least  connected  with  the 
person  of  the  self-existent  and  eternal  Word,  seeing  that 
there  is  none  other  name  given  among  men  whereby  they 
can  be  saved,  but  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  ?    The  doctrine 
of  the  divinity  of  the  Lord  Jesus  rests   not  merely  on  a 
single  statement,  or  topic  of  argument ;  it  is  interwoven 
with  the  whole  tissue  of  sacred  truth.     The  properly  and 
rightfully  divine  is  attributed  to  him  in  the  most  unqualified 
manner,  and  in  the  most  substantial  degree;  and  meets  us 
m  such  a  variety  of  forms,  that  if  it  be  denied,  we  can  no 
longer  place  dependence  on  the  language  of  Scripture,  we 
must  abandon  all  the  ordinary  and  legitimate  rules  of  criti- 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION.  157 

cism  and  of  judgment,  and  despair  of  ascertaining  its  real 
meaning.     Nothing  can  exceed  its  unequivocal  averments. 
There  is  "  line  upon  line."     "  He  was  God."     "  He  is  the 
great  God."    He  is  the  "  true  God."    He  is  "  God,  blessed 
for  ever."     He  is   "  the   only  wise   God."     He  is  "  the 
Lord  (Jehovah)  our  righteousness."     He  is  "  the  mighty 
God."     It  is  difficult  to  conceive  how  words  can  be  more 
potential   and  descriptive.     If,   as  the  Unitarians  assert, 
Christ  is  no  more  than   man,  then  must  we  regard  the 
Scriptures  as  so  written  that  the  natural  interpretation  of 
them  is  a  source  of  total  and  dreadful  error,  and,  instead 
of  being  a  sure  guide,  none  would  be  more  uncertain  ; — 
then  the  sacred  writers  have  deceived  millions  who  wished 
to  know  the  divine  will,  and  have  led  them  to  pay  divine 
honors  to  a  man,  or  an  angel,  and  thus  drawn  them  into 
the  erroneous  crime  of  idolatry.     Can  a  system  be  true 
which  evidently  leads  to  this  conclusion  ?    Conformable  to 
these  declarations  of  the  Saviour's  divinity,  the  Scriptures 
ascribe  to  Christ  all  the  peculiar  attributes  of  Deity.  Is  God 
omnipotent  ?     "  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega— the  Almighty." 
Is  God  omniscient  ?     *'  All  the  churches  shall  know  that 
I  am  He  which  searcheth  the  heart  and  the  reins."     Is 
God  omnipresent  ?     "  Where  two  or  three  are  gathered 
together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of  them."    Is 
God  self-existent  ?     "  His  goings  forth  have  been  from  of 
old,    from   everlasting."      Is  God   immutable?      "Jesus 
Christ,  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever."     All  the 
peculiar  claims  of  God  are  represented  as  belonging  unto 
Christ.     Is  God  to  be  loved  ?     "  If  any  man  love  not  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  anathema,  maranatla."     Is 
God  to  be  obeyed  ?    "  Ye  serve  the  Lord  Christ."    Is  God 
to  be  trusted  ?     "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and 
thou  shalt  be  saved."     Is  God  to  be  adored  ?    "  Let  all  the 
angels  of  God  worship  him."     "  All  men  should  honor  tht 


158  PRECIOUSNESS   OF  CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 

Son,  even  as  they  honor  the  Father."     No  discrimination 
is  applied,  no  reserve  is  admitted.     All  the  peculiar  acts 
of  God  are  attributed  to  Christ.     Is  creation  a  divine  work  ? 
"  All  things  were  made  by  him,  and  without  him  was  not 
anything  made  that  was  made."     Is  sustentation  a  divine 
act  ?    «  By  him  all  things  consist."     "  He  upholdeth  all 
things  by  the  word  of  his  power."     Is  universal  possession 
a  divine  prerogative  ?     «  He  is  Lord  of  all."    Does  su- 
preme dominion  belong  to  God  ?    "  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is 
for  ever  and  ever."     Are  the  Scriptures  divinely  inspired  ? 
"  The   prophets  searched  what,  or  what  manner  of  time, 
the  Spirit  of  Christ  which  was  in  them  did  signify,  when 
it  testified  beforehand  the  sufferings  of  Christ,  and  the  glory 
which  should  follow."     Is  it  God  alone  who  can  pardon 
sin  ?    "  The  Son  of  man  hath  power  to  forgive  sins."     Is 
the  gift  of  eternal  life  a  divine  bestowment  ?   "  To  him  that 
overcometh  will  I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life,  which  is 
in  the  midst  of  the  paradise  of  God."     "  My  sheep  hear 
my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me,  and  I 
give  unto  them  eternal  life,  and  they  shall  never  perish." 
Does  universal  judgment  belong  to  God  ?    "  The  Father 
judgeth  no  man,  but  hath  committed  all  judgment  to  the 
Son."     All  these  are  confessedly  the  acts  of  the  infinite 
God  alone,  and  involve  the  absolute  possession  of  power 
and  perfections  without  limits.     To  create,  preserve,  and 
govern  the  universe — to  give  and  restore  life — to  forgive 
sins — to  bestow  eternal  life — to  judge  the  world  of  angels 
and  of  men — and  to  determine  the  destinies  of  all  intelli- 
gent beings,  are,  if  anything  can  be,  evidences  of  true  and 
proper  divinity.     The  conclusion  is  of  the  most  consolatory 
character  ;  one  with  which  our  peace  and  safety  are  in- 
separably connected.     It  is  a  cpnviction  of  the  true  and 
proper  divinity  of  the  Son  of  God  which  can  alone  soothe 
the  mind  when  suffering  from  the  pressure  of  guilt,  and 
the  apprehension  of  punishment.    It  is  not  the  mere  feeling 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN   AFFLICTION. 


159 


of  tenderness  and  compassion  that  can  meet  the  case  of 
fallen  and  sinful  man ;  there  must  be  power  and  authority 
also.     When  conscience  strikes  its  scorpion  sting  into  the 
breast,  when  the  "  heart  meditates  terror,"  when  judgment 
threatens  vengeance,  and  hell  discloses  its  scenes  of  wo, 
the  sinner  eagerly  looks  round,  and  wistfully  seeks  pity 
and  deliverance.     Whither  can  he  flee  ?  to  whom  can  he 
go  for  help  and  deliverance  ?  shall  he  seek  them  from  mor- 
tal hand  ?    Bitter  would  be  the  disappointment ;  it  would 
be  but  a  mockery  of  his  wo.    Can  man  redeem  his  brother  ? 
or  can  human  power  extract  the  barbed  arrow  from  the 
guilty   conscience  ?    Shall  he  then  implore   some   super- 
angelic  being  to  undertake  his  cause  ?     Let  that  being  be 
ever  so  exalted,  still  he  is  but  a  creature;  his  power  is 
limited ;  and,  therefore,  he  is  unfit  to  be  the  saviour  of  guilty 
man.     Which  of  all  the  angelic  throng  could  have  borne 
away  the  ponderous  load  of  human  guilt?  or  to  which  could 
we  implicitly  confide  our  immortal  interests  ?     Lamb  of 
God  !  thou  alone  art  able  to  keep  that  w^hich  is  committed 
unto  thee  against  the  great  day.     As  a  compassionate  and 
almighty  Saviour,  Christ  merits  the  highest  confidence  of 
the  lost  and  the  dying.     On  him,  as  possessing  infinite 
perfections,  the  guilty  and  distressed  sinner  may  repose 
his  interests  with  unlimited  confidence.     0,  how  precious 
is  the  thought  of  a  divine  Saviour  !  how  great  the  consola- 
tion arising  from  the  consideration  of  his  greatness,  his 
dignity,  and  glory !     In  his  divine  nature  he  is  the  author 
of  being,  and  the  fountain  and  preserver  of  life.     The  im- 
mense creation,  incomparably  beyond  the  grasp  of  our  finite 
intellect,  originated  in  his  unsearchable   understanding. 
By  his  word  he  formed  the  earth,  and  stretched  out  the 
heavens.     The  former  he  peopled  with  "living  things  in- 
numerable ;"  and  the  latter  he  clothed  with  a  splendor  and 
beauty  which  unceasingly  speak  his  praise.     "  By  him  all 
things  consist."     He  is  their  constant  prop  and  stay.    His 


I   I 


160 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 


161 


presence  pervades  the  whole  universe.  He  is  not  only  in 
heaven,  but  on  earth ;  yea,  "  he  fills  all  things."  To  a 
mind  divinely  illuminated, 

"  His  glories  blaze  all  nature  round, 
And  strike  the  wondering  sight." 


(( 


The  heaven  is  his  throne,  and  the  earth  his  footstool.'* 
All  the  angelic  throng  bow  to  his  sovereign  sway.  The 
burning  seraph  and  the  smallest  atom  are  equally  under 
his  control,  and  exist  for  his  glory.  In  the  dignity  and 
glory  of  the  Redeemer  let  all  the  subjects  of  divine  grace 
rejoice.  Let  them  remember  that  the  Saviour  on  whom 
their  hopes  repose  is  the  mighty  God.  Can  they,  then, 
hesitate  to  confide  in  him,  or  question  their  safety  while 
protected  by  him  who  is  infinite  in  power  ? 

He  is  precious  in  the  efficacy  of  his  atonement.  That 
Christ  died  to  make  atonement  for  human  guilt  is  a  truth 
everywhere  asserted  in  the  sacred  volume.  From  that 
book  we  not  only  learn  the  awful  fact  of  man's  apostasy, 
and  consequent  guilt  and  danger ;  his  subjection  to  sin, 
and  condemnation,  and  wrath  ;  but  also,  the  blessed  means 
of  his  restoration.  Christ  is  frequently  represented  as 
suffering  for  us,  and  as  tasting  death  for  us.  This  was 
obscurely  intimated  in  the  first  promise  made  to  man, 
*'  The  seed  of  the  woman  shall  bruise  the  serpent's  head." 
It  was  shadowed  forth  in  all  the  sacrifices  which  were 
offered  by  divine  appointment,  from  the  first  transgression 
to  the  time  when  Christ  expired  upon  the  cross.  The 
paschal  lamb,  the  scape  goat,  the  red  heifer,  as  well  as 
the  dayly  morning  and  evening  sacrifices,  all  had  direct 
reference  to  him,  and  were  "  a  shadow  of  good  things  to 
come,"  which  things  are  realized  in  the  atonement  and 
mediation  of  Christ.  The  expiatory  character  of  the  death 
of  Christ  was  recognized  by  all  the  prophets.  Did  not 
David  speak  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ  ?     Was  it  not  from 


David  that  the  Saviour  quoted  one  of  the  last  expressions 
that  fell  from  his  lips  ?     "  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast 
thou  forsaken  me?"     Did  not  Isaiah  speak  of  him  who 
was  to  be  "  wounded  for  our  transgressions,"  and  "bruised 
for  our  iniquities,"  upon  whom  our  chastisement  was  to  be 
laid,  and  by  whose  stripes  we  were  to  be  healed ;  who 
was  to  "  bear  the  sins  of  many,"  and  *'  make  intercession  for 
transgressors?"     Did  not  Daniel  testify  that  the  Messiah 
should  be  "  cut  off,  but  not  for  himself;"  that  he  should 
*'  make  reconciliation  for  iniquity,  and  bring  in  everlasting 
righteousness  ?"     Did  not  Zechariah  tell  of  him  who  was 
to  be  pierced,  on  whom  the  Jews  were  to  look,  "  as  one 
iu  bitterness  for  his  first-born  ?"     Thus  along  the  whole 
tract  of  revelation,  from  the  first  age  of  the  world,  we  per- 
ceive the  great  Redeemer  of  the  human  race  hastening 
forward  through  successive  scenes  of  symbolic  instruction, 
of  typical  representation,  and  of  prophetic  discovery,  to 
that  eventful  era  in  the  progress  of  time,  regarded  by  infi- 
nite wisdom  as  the  maturity  of  preceding  ages,  and  the 
proper  and  appointed  period  for  bringing  the  great  plan  of 
liuman  redemption  to  its  full  perfection.     When  that  period 
arrived.  He,  who  had  so  long  been  concealed  under  the  veil 
of  mysterious  allusions,  was  manifested  in  his  true  redeem- 
ing character,  "  the  seed  of  the  woman,",  in  "  the  form  of  a 
servant ;"  and,  with  unshrinking  step,  did  he  proceed  from 
one  stage  of  his  debasement  and  suffering  to  another,  until 
he  approached  the  consummation  of  his  great  work.     And 
when,  amid  the  preternatural  darkness  of  the  ninth  hour, 
and  upon  the  cross,  the  Redeemer  cried  to  his  offended 
God,  and  gave  up  the  ghost,  he  concentrated,  and  bore, 
and  quenched  within  himself,  that  fire  which  justice  had 
lighted  up  when  Adam  fell,  and  which  had  run  along  the 
surface  of  the  earth,  finding  fresh  fuel  in  every  folly  and 
crime  of  man  ;  and  which,  if  it  had  not  been  for  his  inter- 
position, would  have  reduced  the  habitation  of  our  race  to 


V 


162 


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PRECI0USNES8  OF   CHRIST    IN    AFFLICTION. 


163 


ruin,  and  have  involved  us  all  in  one  universal  destruction. 
Then  did  our  gracious  Redeemer  endure  the  punishment, 
which,  in  the  justice  or  judgment  of  God,  was  due  unto 
sin,  and  die  "  the  just  for  the  unjust  that  he  might  bring  us 
to  God."     In  this  strain  the  inspired  writers  of  the  New 
Testament  everywhere  speak  of  the  sufferings  of  Christ. 
It  is  frequently  and  strenuously  inculcated,  that  the  blood 
of  Christ  was  the  matter  of  an  expiatory  sacrifice,  by  which 
atonement  was  made  for  the  sin  of  the  whole  human  race. 
"  In  him  we  have  redemption  through  his  blood,  the  for- 
giveness of  sins."     "  My  blood,"  said  our  Lord  himself  to 
his  disciples,  "  is  shed  for  many  for  the  remission  of  sins." 
There  are  persons  who  reject  the  doctrine  of  the  atone- 
ment, because  they  think  that  a  being  of  infinite  goodness 
has  a  right  to  forgive,  how  and  whom  he  pleased.     But  we 
are  met  here  by  another  consideration  ;  this  being,  who  is 
infinite  in  goodness,  is  not  less  infinite  in  justice  and  right- 
eousness.    Here  comes  the  difficulty :  it  is  nothing  to  say 
that  God  is  good,  and  therefore  he  may  forgive ;  for  God 
is  holy  and  just,  and  can  he  depart  from  his  truth,  pledged 
to  the  fulfillment  of  his  threatenings  against  disobedience, 
or  relax  the  authority  of  his  law,  or  mitigate  its  require- 
ments, or  pass  by  the  dishonor  done  to  his  government ; 
and,  therefore,  how  can  he  forgive  ?    The  Gospel  answers 
this  question.     God  chooses  his  Son  as  the  substitute  of 
the  guilty  whom  he  designed  to  save  ;  laying  upon  him 
the  responsibility  of  their  guilt,  and  exacting  from  him  the 
penalty  which  they  had  incurred,  engaging,  in  return,  to 
impute  to  them  the  merit  of  his  death,  and  to  deal  with 
them  according  to  his  deserts.     And  this  was  done,  that, 
while  his  forgiving  mercy  was  manifested  in  receiving  his 
people  into  favor,  his  equity  might  be  displayed,  and  his 
law  magnified  and  made  honorable,  by  the  vicarious  suflfer- 
ings  and  death  of  their  Surety.     Thus  we  see  how  the 
great  problem  of  connecting  the  maintenance  of  justice  with 


the  exercise  of  mercy — of  forgiving  sins,  while  the  right- 
eousness of  the  law  is  preserved,  and  the  moral  government 
of  God  is  unrelaxed— is  fully  solved :  "  Whom  God  hath 
set  forth  to  be  a  propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood,  to 
declare  his  righteousness  for  the  remission  of  sins  that  are 
past,  through  the  forbearance  of  God ;  to  declare,  I  say, 
at  this  time  his  righteousness  ;  that  he  might  be  just,  and 
the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus."     This  glorious 
scheme,  therefore,  while  it  is  pervaded  by  the  golden  prin- 
ciple of  divine  love,  is  yet  founded  on  the  principle  of 
eternal  justice.     In  it  "truth  met  with  mercy,  and  right- 
eousness with  peace  ;"  and  the  full  satisfaction  which  it 
provides  for  the  claims  of  divine  justice  may  well  serve  to 
silence  every  doubt  or  misgiving,  which,  notwithstanding 
the  benevolence  of  God,  might  be  awakened  in  our  minds, 
by  a  consideration  of  the  holiness  and  justice  of  the  divine 
administration.     Glorious  propitiation!  and  altogether  as 
complete  as  it  is  glorious.     The  Father  has  accepted  the 
ofTering  of  the  Son  in  the  sinner's  place  ;  hence  he  justifies 
the  soul  that  flees  to  Jesus,  and  has  no  charges  against  the 
penitent  that  washes  in  the  fountain  of  his  blood.     The 
Father  is  now  the  justifier  of  him  that  believeth  in  Jesus. 
"  He  justifieth  the  ungodly."     What,  then,  shall  terrify  the 
true   believer?    what  shall   stand  between  him  and  his 
eternal  hopes?     Shall  Satan  muster  up  his  accusations, 
and  set  them  in  frightful  array  ?  Yet,  though  there  may  be 
much  guilt,  "  there  is  no  condemnation  to  them  that  are  in 
Christ  Jesus."     Does  the  law  take  the  guilty  mortal  by  the 
throat,  and,  with  unrelenting  rigor,  say,  "  Pay  me  that  thou 
owest?"     It  is  paid,  fully  paid,  by  the  intervention  and 
suretyship,  not  of  a  mere  man,  but  of  the  mighty  God  made 
flesh.     Does  divine  justice  demand  satisfaction  for  the 
wrongs  received  from  sinners  ?     It  is  not  only  satisfied, 
but  most  awfully  glorified  by  this  wonderful  oblation.     In 
short,  there  is  a  full  and  sufficient  sacrifice  for  the  sins  of 


164 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN    AFFLICTION. 


the  whole  world.     It  vindicates  the  honor  of  God's  hoh- 
ness ;  it  displays  his  unsearchable  wisdom  ;  it  manifests 
his  unutterable  goodness;  it  gives  the  most  magnificent 
and  lovely  lustre  to  all  the  divine  perfections;  and  fur- 
nishes a  firm  foundation  on  which  the  vilest,  the  guiltiest, 
may  rest  their  hope.     The  great  doctrine  of  atonement  by 
the  suflferings  of  Christ  is  one  upon  which  both  men  and 
angels  must  delight  to  dwell.     It  is  a  doctrine  which  chases 
away  the  clouds  of  despair,  and  sheds  around  the  tomb  the 
brightness  of  life  and  immortality.     It  is  a  doctrine  which 
has  inspired  numberless  millions,  both  in  life  and  death, 
with  joy  and  gladness.     It  is  a  doctrine  which  has  given 
a  new  song,  and  a  more  glowing  ardor,  to  seraphs  before 
the  throne  of  God.     It  is  a  doctrine  without  which  all 
human  life  must  perish,  and  the  destinies  of  our  race  bo 
buried  in  the  blackness  of  despair.     Christian,  dwell  upon 
the  atonement ;  there  is  thy  hope,  thy  life.     "  Behold  the 
Lamb  of  God,"  bearing  the  sin  of  the  world,  and  thine 
among  the  rest.     Contemplate  this  love  in  its  manifesta- 
tions to  yourself.     What  were  you  ?  A  fallen,  guilty  rebel. 
What  was  your  state  ?    Condemnation  and  misery.    What 
were  your  prospects  ?    "  Indignation  and  wrath,  tribulation 
and  anguish,"  and  the  blackness  of  darkness  for  ever. 
What  would  have  been  your  lot,  if  Christ  had  not  died  ? 
Can  you  survey  without  horror  the  doom  that  awaited  you  ? 
What  is  now  your  state  ?     You  have  pardon,  peace,  and 
favor  of  God,  and  the  hope  of  everlasting  life  ;  and  all 
through  Jesus.     Think  of  the  dignity  of  the  sufferer,  the 
extremity  of  his  sufferings,  and  the  consequences  of  his 
mediation.     Think  of  your  obligations  to  him,  and  prize 
your  Redeemer.     How  earnest  should  be  your  prayer,  that 
"  being  rooted  and  grounded  in  love,  you  may  be  able  to 
comprehend,  with  all  saints,  what  is  the  breadth,  and  length, 
and  depth,  and  height,  and  know  the  love  of  Christ  which 


) 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN    AFFLICTION. 


165 


passeth  knowledge,  that  you  may  be  filled  with  all  the 
fullness  of  God." 

He  is  precious  in  his  intercession.     His  work  on  behalf 
of  his  people  w^s  not  terminated  when  he  made  atonement 
for  them  upon  the  cross,  and  gave  himself  "  the  just  for  the 
unjust,  that  he  might  bring  us  to  God."     Like  the  high 
priest  under  the  law,  when  he  had  offered  up  sacrifice  for 
sin,  with  the  all-availing  blood  of  this  sacrifice  he  entered, 
not  into  the  holy  place  made  with  hands,  but  into  heaven 
itself,  there   to   appear  in  the  presence   of  God  for  us. 
There,  as  their  advocate  and  intercessor,  he  maintains  the 
cause  and  promotes  the  interests  of  his  people.     "  Where- 
fore," says  St.  Paul,  "  he  is  able  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to 
make  intercession  for  them."     And  St.  John  tells  us,  "  We 
have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the  right- 
eous."    To  intercede  denotes,  originally,  to  go  between 
one  person  and  another.     In  its  secondary,  or  figurative 
sense,  the  only  one  in  which  it  seems  now  to  be  used,  it 
denotes  offering  petitions  in  behalf  of  another ;   and  in 
Scripture,  offering  such  petitions  to  God.     On  this  subject 
we  are  aided   by  the   last-quoted  passage,  in  which  the 
original  word  rendered  advocate,  signifies  one  who  pleads 
the  cause  of  another,  and  has  reference  to  a  person,  who, 
in  the  Roman  courts,  under  the  appellation  of  PatronuSt 
attended   a  client,  and   in    countenancing,  advising,   and 
interceding  for  him,  took  an  efficacious  care  of  his  interest. 
Thus  we  are  taught  that  his  intercession  with  the  Father 
is  equivalent  to  the  pleadings  of  a  friend  who  solicits  bene- 
fits for  another.     It  is  obvious  that  the  amount  of  these 
advantages  would  greatly  depend  upon  the  character  of 
the   intercessor,   and  upon  the  influence  and  interest  he 
might  possess.     In  this  view,  what  confidence  does  the 
Christian's  intercessor  demand!     Look,  Christian  reader. 


166 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF    CHRIST  IN   AFFLICTION. 


at  the  following  particulars,  and  mark  the  preciousness  of 
Christ. 

He  is  an  intercessor  every  way  qualified  for  the  work. 
He  is  infinitely  wise.  Sometimes  a  cause  is  ruined  by 
want  of  skill  on  the  part  of  the  person  who  is  to  advocate 
it ;  but  Christ  is  personally  acquainted  with  our  condition, 
infirmities,  dangers,  wants,  and  woes.  He  knows  our 
inward  conflicts,  as  well  as  our  outward  troubles.  He 
not  only  hears  our  prayers,  but  is  acquainted  with  the 
secret  wishes  of  our  hearts.  He  perfectly  understands 
every  peculiarity  in  our  case.  He  sees  where  the  burden 
presses  under  which  we  groan,  and  the  kind  of  relief  which 
will  be  most  suitable  and  efficient.  With  him  this  know- 
ledge is  more  than  simple  apprehension ;  it  is  the  feeling 
of  experience,  the  tender  sympathy  of  common  nature. 
"We  have  not  a  High  Priest  which  cannot  be  touched 
with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities ;  biH  was  in  all  points 
tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin."  Having  assumed 
the  nature  of  his  disciples,  he  knows  their  wants  and  weak- 
nesses, their  trials  and  sorrows ;  he  has  experienced  the 
assaults  of  temptation,  the  reproaches  of  the  world,  the 
malice  of  enemies,  the  treachery  of  friends,  the  bitterness 
of  sorrow,  and  the  anguish  of  pain.  Hence  he  can  sym- 
pathize with  his  suflfering  followers  in  a  way  that  angels 
cannot.  They  know  nothing  personally  of  our  experience, 
of  our  weaknesses,  sorrows,  or  conflicts.  Their  exhorta- 
tions and  consolations  would  be  all  theory — they  would 
not  come  from  the  heart.  Hence  the  high  priest  under 
the  law  was  not  taken  from  among  the  angels,  but  men, 
that  he  might  "  have  compassion  on  the  ignorant,  and  on 
them  that  are  out  of  the  way ;  for  that  he  himself  is  com- 
passed with  infirmity."  All  this  is  applicable  to  our  Lord 
and  Saviour,  "  for  that  he  himself  hath  suflfered,  being 
tempted,  he  is  able  to  succor  them  that  are  tempted."  O  ! 
how  delightful  the  consolation  which  flows  from  the  assu- 


FRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST  IN    AFFLICTION. 


167 


ranee  that  our  heavenly  Advocate  is  one  who  can,  by  expe- 
rience, enter  into  our  trials  and  afllictions;  having  "been 
tempted  in  all  points  like  unto  us,  yet  without  sin !"  Is  he 
not  faithful  also  ?  This  is  an  additional  qualification  of 
great  encouragement.  An  advocate  might  have  both  skill 
and  power  to  plead  our  case,  and  yet,  through  unfaithful- 
ness, might  deceive  our  confidence,  and  cruelly  betray  our 
interests.  This  is  not  the  character  of  our  heavenly 
Advocate.  He  merits  the  highest  confidence  of  his  peo- 
ple. He  is  faithful,  and  just,  and  true.  With  him  "there 
is  no  variableness,  neither  shadow  of  turning."  His  com- 
passion is  not  the  compassion  of  a  day.  His  bounty  is  not 
the  efl^ect  of  momentary  tenderness.  With  him  there  is  no 
fickleness,  no  caprice.  He  is  mindful  of  his  promises, 
and  faithful  to  his  trust.  His  word  may  be  relied  upon, 
for  it  has  been  tried  thousands  of  times,  and  always  found 
sure.  Whoever  trusted  in  him  and  was  confounded  1  The 
apostle,  therefore,  calls  him  "  a  merciful  and  faithful  High 
Priest  in  things  pertaining  to  God."  The  value  of  his  inter- 
cession is  still  further  heightened  by  the  consideration  of 
its  constancy  and  perpetuity.  The  priests  under  the  law 
were  not  suflfered  to  continue  by  reason  of  death,  but  "  he 
ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us,"  and,  therefore,  he 
hath  an  unchangeable  priesthood.  The  Levitical  high 
priest  could  only  enter,  once  a  year,  into  the  holy  place 
made  with  hands.  He  could  not  approach  it  at  pleasure. 
He  could  not  enter  it  dayly.  Except  on  the  great  day  of 
atonement,  it  was  closed  even  against  the  high  priest  him- 
self. But  how  diflerent  from  this  is  the  situation  of  the 
Christian's  High  Priest!  To  the  holy  place,  not  made 
with  hands,  the  heaven  of  heavens — the  great  metropolis 
of  the  universe — the  residence  of  infinite  majesty — he  has 
free  and  constant  access  ;  nay  more,  it  is  his  abiding  resi- 
dence. The  heavens  have  received  him  until  the  "time 
of  the  restitution  of  all  things."     The  believer,  therefore, 


168 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF   CHRIST    IN  AFFLICTION. 


can  never  have  to  complain  that  his  cause  has  suffered  from 
the  absence  of  his  Advocate.  In  all  his  straits,  and  diffi- 
culties, and  afflictions,  his  help  is  at  hand.  He  cannot 
knock  at  mercy's  door  when  his  Intercessor  is  absent. 
His  best  Friend  is  always  in  the  court  of  heaven.  On  this 
point  an  apostle  lays  great  stress,  for  it  is  that  on  which 
our  safety  turns,  "  Wherefore  he  is  able  to  save  them  to 
the  uttermost  that  come  unto  God  by  him." 

Observe  the  nature  of  the  intercession  which  He  exercises. 
Much    curious    and   unprofitable    speculation    hath    been 
indulged  relative  to  the  mode  in  which  his  intercession  is 
exercised.     Such  speculations   are   worse    than    useless. 
The  discoveries  of  revelation  on  this  subject  are  obviously 
imparted,  not  to  gratify  a  vain  curiosity,  but  to  lead  the 
mind  of  the   serious  Christian  to  a  perception  of  those 
consolatory  truths  which  are  calculated  to  promote  his  faith 
and  joy.     Though  silent  as  to  the  mode,  they  plainly  assure 
ns  that  it  is  real.     It  consists  in  his  personal  appearance 
before  the  throne  of  his  Father;  in  the  presentation  of.liis 
sacrifice;  and  in  claiming  the  benefits  resulting  from  it. 
It  is  questioned  whether  this  intercession  be  vocal.     This 
does  not  appear  to  be  necessary.     When  we  reflect  on  the 
manner  in  which  the  visible  appearance  of  the  crucified 
humanity  of  the  Saviour  in  the  heavenly  sanctuary  must 
necessarily  operate,  we  shall  be  .convinced  that  it  would 
be  sufficient  of  itself  to  realize  and  secure  all  tlie  import- 
ant objects  proposed  by  his  intercession.    It  was  the  opinion 
of  the  ancients,  that  Christ  intercedes  for  his  people  by 
presenting  continually  his  human  nature  before  the  throne 
of  his  Father.     Aquinas,  also,  a  more  modem  writer,  says, 
"  Christ  intercedes  for  us  by  exhibiting,  with  a  desire  for 
our  salvation,  to  the  view  of  the  Father,  the  human  nature- 
assumed  for  us,  and  the  mysteries  celebrated  or  accom- 
plished   in    it."     In    support   of  this   opinion  it  may  bo 
remarked,  that  the  high  priest,  whose  intercession  vas  a 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF    CHRIST    IN   AFFLICTION. 


169 


type  of  that  of  Christ,  does  not  appear  to  have  said  any- 
thing when  he  entered  into  the  holy  place  ;  his  intercession 
consisted,  not  in  offering  prayers  for  the  people,  but  in 
sprinkling  the  blood  of  the  slaughtered  victim  on  the  mercy- 
seat.  As  the  blood  of  the  sacrifice  was  thus  presented 
before  God,  by  way  of  intercession,  so  Christ  presents  the 
memorials  of  his  sacrifice.  How  did  John  see  him  in  the 
vision  ?  As  a  lamb  that  had  been  slain  ;  that  is,  without  a 
figure,  retaining  in  his  glorified  body  the  marks  of  his  suf- 
ferings and  death.  The  saints  and  angels  behold  them, 
and  exclaim,  "  Worthy  is  the  Lamb  that  w^as  slain."  God 
views  them,  and  says,  "  Ask  of  me,  and  I  shall  give  thee 
the  heathen  for  thine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts 
of  the  earth  for  thy  possession."  Of  this  mode  of  interces- 
sion, history  presents  us  with  a  striking  example.  Achylus 
was  accused,  and  likely  to  be  condemned.  His  brother 
Amyntus  undertook  to  be  his  advocate.  Amyntus  had 
fought  many  battles  in  the  cause  of  the  commonwealth, 
and,  in  a  certain  action  in  their  service,  had  lost  a  hand : 
he  came  into  court ;  a  large  assembly  was  present,  and  all 
were  eager  to  hear  him  plead  on  so  interesting  an  occa 
sion :  but  he  said  nothing ;  without  speaking  a  word,  he 
held  up  to  view  his  dismembered  arm,  at  the  sight  of  which 
the  judges  were  so  affected,  that  they  immediately  set  his 
brother  free.  And  shall  not  the  suit  of  Jesus  be  successful, 
who  appears  before  his  Father  in  that  crucified  humanity 
which  is  a  continual  exhibition  of  what  he  has  done  and 
suffered  for  the  glory  of  his  Father,  and  the  salvation  of 
the  world?  In  perfect  accordance  with  this  impressive 
view  of  the  subject,  the  apostle  describes  the  blood  of 
Christ  as  vocal,  and  in  order  more  powerfully  to  affect  us, 
represents  it  in  contrast  with  the  blood  of  Abel :  that  had 
a  voice,  and  called  aloud  for  vengeance  on  the  guilty  mur- 
derer :  but  the  blood  of  Chnst  speaketh  better  things  ;  its 
voice  is  lifted  up  to  implore  mercy,  even  for  his  murderers  ; 

8 


170 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN    AFFLICTION. 


it  urges  with  silent,  but  persuasive  importunity,  the  prayer 
uttered  by  the  agonized  sufferer  just  before  his  lips  were 
closed  in  death,  "  Father,  forgive  them,  for  they  know  not 
what  they  do  !"  Will  the  Father,  who  was  well  pleased 
with  his  sacrifice,  refuse  his  request  ?  No  ;  the  accept- 
ance of  his  atonement  insures  the  prevalence  of  his 
intercession. 

The  intercession  of  Christ  extends  to  all  our  important 
interests.     The  various  scenes  and  circumstances,  duties 
and  sufferings,  of  the  present  state,  render  the  wants  of 
the   Christian   many.      Various  arc  the  discouragements 
he    experiences    from  within    as  well    as    from  without. 
Grace  is  needed  for  these  diversified  scenes  of  temptation 
and  trial ;  but  the  intercession  of  the  Saviour  includes  all 
that  can  be  needed  to  lead  the  soul  in  safety  to  the  hea- 
venly rest.     We  may  look  upon  his  prayer  for  his  disciples, 
on  the  night  when  he  was  betrayed,  as  a  specimen  of  his 
continued  intercession  before  the   throne  ;    and  for  what 
does  he  not  there  plead  ?     For  our  preservation  : — "  Keep 
through  thine  own  name  those  whom  thou  hast  given  me." 
**  I  pray  not  that  thou  shouldest  take  them  out  of  the  world, 
but  that  thou  shouldest  keep  them  from  the  evil."     For  our 
sanctification  : — "  Sanctify  them   through  thy  truth ;    thy 
word  is  truth."     For  a  union  with  himself,  and  with  each 
other : — "  That  they  all  may  be  one  ;  as  thou.  Father,  art 
in  me,  and  I  in  thee,  that  they  also  may  be  one  in  us : 
that  the  world  may  believe  that  thou  hast  sent  me.     And 
the  glory  which  thou  gavest  me  I  have  given  them ;  that 
they  may  be  one,  even  as  we  are  one."     For  our  glorifi- 
cation : — "  Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  thou  hast 
given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am,  that  they  may  behold 
my  glory  which  thou  hast  given  me  :  for  thou  lovest  me 
before  the  foundation  of  the  world."     Is  any  mourner  so 
disconsolate  that  he  cannot  pray — so  bowed  down  to  the 
earth  by  the  pressure  of  sorrow  that  he  cannot  venture  to 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 


171 


lift  up  his  eyes  to  the  throne  ?  Let  him  hear  the  Re- 
deemer's prayer  for  him,  and  take  courage  ;  and  let  him 
remember  that  such  as  he  was  when  he  uttered  that 
prayer  on  earth,  such  is  he  still  in  heaven.  What  can  be 
more  consoling  than  to  know,  that  we  go  not  unbefriended 
to  the  throne  of  the  Eternal ;  that  at  God's  right  hand  we 
have  an  Advocate,  and  that  his  intercession  includes  what- 
ever is  essential  to  our  safety  and  happiness  ?  But  how, 
it  may  be  asked  by  such  a  one,  may  I  know  that  he  in- 
tercedes for  me  ?  You  may  determine  this  point  by  the 
following  questions  : — Do  you  value  above  all  things  the 
blessings  for  which  Christ  intercedes  ?  Do  you  join  your 
own  earnest  and  repeated  supplications  to  his  intercession? 
Do  you  rely  wholly  on  Christ's  unspeakable  merits  for  the 
pardon  of  all  your  sins  ?  If  so,  be  not  discouraged. 
Christ  is  your  advocate  with  the  Father.  He  died  for  you 
upon  the  cross,  and  pleads  his  meritorious  oblation  for  you 
upon  the  throne. 

Lastly,  we  are  assured  of  the  certain  success  of  his  in- 
tercession. If  Moses  was  heard  when  he  made  applica- 
tion in  behalf  of  Israel ;  if  Job,  when  he  petitioned  for  the 
pardon  of  his  three  friends  ;  if  Elijah's  prayer  entered  into 
the  ear  of  the  Lord  God  of  hosts,  when  he  requested  rain 
for  the  parched  earth  ;  surely  God's  dearly-beloved  Son 
will  not  be  rejected  when  he  maketh  intercession  for  the 
saints.  "  I  know,"  he  says,  "  that  thou  hearest  me  always." 
This  conclusion  is  derivable  from  every  circumstance 
combined  in  his  glorious  person.  By  his  essential  union 
with  the  Godhead  he  has  connected  our  cause  with  the 
attributes  of  the  Deity,  and  rendered  it  the  object  of  the 
Father's  pleasure  ;  for  in  him  his  "  soul  delighted."  He 
is  called  "  God's  own  Son,"  "  his  only-begotten  Son,"  "  his 
dear  Son,"  with  whom  he  is  always  well  pleased.  It  is 
derivable  from  the  ground  of  his  demand.  By  his  assump- 
tion of  human  nature,  and  his  consequent  obedience  unto 


172 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST  IN   AFFLICTION. 


death,  even  the  death  of  the  cross,  he  hath  obtained  eternal 
redemption  for  us.  He  hath  purchased  whatever  he  asks, 
purchased  it  by  his  obedience  and  death,  and  therefore 
cannot  but  obtain  his  suit.  It  is  derivable  from  the  divine 
fidelity.  Having  fulfilled  the  engagements  of  the  ever- 
lasting covenant,  rendered  the  display  of  mercy  consistent 
with  the  claims  of  justice,  and  performed  the  work  which 
the  Father  gave  him  to  do,  he  has  identified  his  success 
as  our  Advocate  with  the  faithfulness  of  God  ;  therefore, 
according  to  the  tenor  of  the  covenant,  "  he  shall  see  his 
seed,  he  shall  prolong  his  days."  He  who  is  faithful  to 
his  saints  cannot  be  unfaithful  to  his  Son.  It  is  derivable 
from  the  oneness  of  his  people  with  himself.  What  he 
asks  on  their  behalf,  he  asks  for  himself.  Let  us  then 
cast  away  our  fears,  and  "  come  with  boldness  to  the 
throne  of  grace ;"  for  there  is  nothing  that  God  can  deny 
to  this  divine  Intercessor.  Whosoever  cometh  unto  God 
by  him,  will  most  assuredly  be  saved. 

He  is  precious  in  the  tenderness  of  his  sympathy.  Sym- 
pathy brought  the  compassionate  Saviour  from  the  heavenly 
world  into  this  vale  of  tears.  His  kind  errand  was  "  to 
seek  and  to  save  that  which  was  lost."  When  he  beheld 
the  miseries  of  the  human  race,  the  awful  dangers,  the 
everlasting  ruin  to  which  they  were  exposed,  he  felt  a 
tender  concern  for  our  condition  ;  and  "  though  he  was  in 
the  form  of  God,  and  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal 
with  God,"  yet,  to  accomplish  the  design  of  his  media- 
torial undertaking,  he  left  that  region  of  inaccessible  light 
in  which  he  had  dwelt  from  everlasting,  an  equal  sharer 
with  the  Father  in  all  the  ineffable  glories  of  the  God- 
head, of  which  he  was  the  bright  effulgence,  he  assumed  the 
form  of  a  servant,  and  was  found  in  fashion  as  a  man,  and 
in  this  mysterious  concealment  of  his  majesty  did  he  pro- 
ceed from  one  stage  of  his  humiliation  to  another,  despised 
and  rejected  of  men,  till,  by  pouring  out  his  soul  unto  death, 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION. 


173 


he  completed  the  sacrifice  of  the  world's  atonement.  The 
compassion  which  moved  him  to  exchange  the  throne  for 
the  manger,  and  finally  for  the  bitter  cross,  appeared  in  a 
thousand  forms  while  he  dwelt  among  us.  From  this 
gracious  principle  he  wrought  a  succession  of  miracles 
upon  the  bodies  of  the  sons  and  daughters  of  aflliction,  inso- 
much that  he  became  eyes  to  the  blind,  ears  to  the  deaf,  feet 
to  the  lame,  health  to  the  diseased,  and  life  to  the  dead  : 
human  wretchedness  everywhere  attracted  his  compassion, 
and  called  forth  his  energy.  To  him  distress  never  made 
its  appeal  in  vain.  He  is  now  exalted  at  the  right  hand 
of  the  Majesty  on  high  ;  but  think  not  that  he  hath  left  his 
human  sympathies  behind  him,  or  that  change  of  circum- 
stances hath  diminished  the  tenderness  of  his  compassion. 
No,  his  sympathy  was  not  of  a  temporary  character,  con- 
fined to  his  personal  residence  among  us ;  it  belongs  to 
the  nature  he  has  assumed,  and  is  necessary  to  the  office 
he  sustains,  and  to  the  various  relations  by  which  he  is 
represented  as  still  connected  with  his  people  upon  earth. 
The  bond  of  union  between  us  and  our  elder  brother  was 
not  dissolved  by  death ;  it  is  still  warm  with  living  sensi- 
bility. That  tender  commiseration  which  moved  him  in 
the  days  of  his  flesh  to  weep  at  the  tomb  of  Lazarus — to 
pour  forth  such  pathetic  lamentations  over  Jerusalem,  be- 
cause she  knew  not  the  day  of  her  merciful  visitation — to 
offer  up  prayers  and  supplications,  with  strong  crying  and 
tears  unto  God — to  sympathize  with  the  various  scenes  of 
want  and  wo  which  so  frequently  passed  before  him — to 
recall  by  a  pitying  look  his  faithless  and  apostate  disciple 
— to  expend  his  last  breath  in  praying  for  his  murderers, 
is  still  the  same.  He  ha]th  carried  our  nature  with  him 
into  the  heavenly  world,  and  although  he  sits  enthroned 
at  the  right  hand  of  the  Majesty  on  high,  amid  the  halle- 
lujahs of  the  blessed,  and  receives  the  adoration  of  angels 
and  archangels,  and  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect, 


174  PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN   AFFLICTION. 

he  is  still  mindful  of  his  suffering  followers  upon  earth  : 
"  He  is  not  ashamed  to  call  them  brethren."     He  bestows 
on  them  the  endearing  appellation  of  children  :  "  Behold 
I,  and  the  children  which  God  hath  given  me."     He  de- 
scribes his  love  to  them  as  surpassing  that  which  a  mother 
entertains  for  her  infant :  "  Can  a  woman  forget  her  suck- 
ing child,  that  she  should  not  have  compassion  on  the 
son  of  her  womb  ?     Yea,  they  may  forget,  yet  will  I  not 
forget  thee."     He  speaks  of  their  interest  as  identified  with 
his  own  :  "  He  that  toucheth  you  toucheth  the  apple  of 
my  eye."     "Inasmuch  as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of 
the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have  done  it  unto  me." 
How  precious   are  these  considerations   to   the   afflicted 
saint !    O,  how  cheering  to  be  assured  that  Christ  is  now 
the  same  in  heaven  that  he  was  when  on  earth ;  that  the 
glory  of  heaven  has  not  changed  him  ;  that  when  he  died  he 
did  not  throw  aside  our  nature,  but  resumed  it  at  his  resur- 
rection, and  still  retains  it  in  personal  union  with  the  divine ; 
that  amid  the  regal  honors  with  which  he  is  now  invested, 
he  still  regards  his  followers  with  the  eye  of  a  brother — 
of  a  father ;  he  who  was  bone  of  our  bone,  who  bore  our 
griefs,  and  carried  our  sorrows,  still  sympathizes  with  our 
woes,  and  is  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmities ! 
While  awed  by  the  majesty  of  his  Godhead,  how  cheer- 
ing to  think  of  the  tenderness  of  his  humanity ;  and  when 
almost  afraid  to  lift  up  our  eyes  to  the  place  where  his 
honor  dwelleth,  how  affecting  the  thought  that  there  is  a 
human  heart  upon  the  throne ! 

The  government  he  exercises  renders  him  precious.  Ho 
is  exalted  "  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church."  He  is  not 
only  the  King  of  his  people,  the  Master  whom  they  serve, 
and  who  will  not  lay  upon  them  more  than  they  are  able 
to  bear ;  but  as  our  Mediator  he  is  raised  to  regal  dignity, 
authority,  and  power.  The  Father  "  hath  put  all  things* 
under  his  feet "— "  hath  given  him  to  be  head  over  all 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF   CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION.  175 

things  to  the  church" — "hath  set  him  at  his  own  right 
hand  in  the  heavenly  places,  far  above  all  principality,  and 
power,  and  might,  and  dominion,  and  every  name  that  is 
named,  not  only  in  this  world,  .but  also  in  that  which  is 
to  come."      The  power  and  authority  here  ascribed  to 
Christ  must  be  considered  as  distinct  and  different  from 
those  which  naturally  and  essentially  belong  to  his  Godhead. 
This  may  present  an  apparent  difficulty,  but  it  will  be  re- 
moved by    a  reference  to  the    mediatorial   character  of 
Christ.     It  was  in  that  character  that  he  humbled  him- 
self, and  in  that  character  it  is  evident  he  can  receive  ex- 
altation, and  that  in   any  degree  less  than  infinite.     His 
voluntary  abasement  when  he  took  upon  him  our  nature, 
in  the  humble  condition  of  a  servant,  is  stated  to  be  the 
ground  of  his  elevation  to  universal  power  and  dominion, 
and  this  elevation  was,  with  perfect  propriety,  given  him 
by  the  glorious  person  under  whose  authority  he  placed 
himself  by  voluntarily  assuming  the  form  of  a  servant. 
"  He  became  obedient ;"  there  was,  therefore,  no  neces- 
sity to  obey  at  all.     But  he  assumed  voluntarily  a  nature 
which  made  him  capable  of  suffering ;  and  he  obeyed  in 
that  nature,  even  unto  death,  "  the  death  of  the  cross  ;"  in 
order  that  he  might  make  it  becoming  the  character  of 
God,  as  a  moral  governor,  to  grant  pardon  to  a  whole  race 
of  apostate  and  guilty,  but  believing  and  penitent,  creatures. 
"  Wherefore,  God  also  hath  highly  exalted  him,  and  given 
him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name  :  that  at  the  name 
of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow,  of  things  in  heaven,  and 
things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth ;  and  that  every 
tongue  should  confess  that  Jesus  Christ  is  Lord,  to  the  glory 
of  God  the   Father."     As  mediator,  then,  he   exercises 
universal  dominion,   and  this  dominion  was  assumed  for 
the  benefit  of  his  church.     He  reigns  not  for  himself  only, 
but  for  us.     All  the  attributes,  and  all  the  endowments  of 
Christ,  together  with  all  the  majesty  and  glory  of  his  ex- 


■HiHMi 


176  PRECIOUSNESS  OF  CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION. 

allation  in  heaven,  are  consecrated  to  the  preservation  and 
prosperity  of  his  church.     As  he  died  that  he  might  pur- 
chase  It  by  his  blood,  so  he  liveth  that  by  the  continual 
exercise  of  his  mediatorial   power  he  may  advance  its 
interests  in  the  salvation  of  men,  as  well  as  secure  the 
happmess  of  his  people,  by  protecting  them  against  their 
adversaries,  succoring  them  in  their  temptations,  comforting 
them  in  their  troubles,  and  administering  to  their  wants 
Well  may  the  children  of  Zion  be  joyful  in  their  King. 
With  what  confidence  may  they  rely  upon  his  power  and 
grace !    How  well  able  is  he  to  give  accomplishment  to 
the  promises  of  his  word  !    Even  in  the  days  of  his  flesh 
in  his  abasemem,  when  clothed  with  the  infirmities  of  our 
nature,  all  things  seemed  to  listen  to  his  word,  to  obey  his 
commands.     When  he  rebuked  disease,  it  fled,  and  sound- 
ness  and  health  resumed  their  place.     To  the  blind  he 
said,  «  Be  opened ;"  and,  in  a  moment,  vision  broke  in 
upon  them.     To  the  deaf  he  said,  "  Be  restored,"  and  the 
formerly  useless  ear  resumed  its  wonted  functions.     To 
the  leper  he  said,  «  Be  thou   clean,"  and  instantly  his 
leprosy  departed.     To  complaining  fiends  he  said,  "  Hold 
your  peace,  and  come  out  of  him,"  and  silently  they  obeyed 
his  irresistible   mandate.     To  the   raging   sea  he   said, 
"  Peace,  be  still,"  and  the  winds  and  waves  listened  to  his 
voice,  and  there  was  a  great  calm.     By  the  side  of  the 
grave  he  said,  «  Lazarus,  come  forth,"  and  death,  at  his 
summons,  yielded  up  his  prey.     But  now,  by  solemn  inves- 
titure,  he  bears  the  sceptre  of  universal  dominion,  and 
hath  «  the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death."     Into  what  difiicul- 
ties,  then,  can  his  people  be  plunged,  from  which  he  is 
not  able  to  extricate  them  ?    With  what  enemies  can  they 
be  called  to  contend,  from  which  he  cannot  protect  them  ? 
What  circumstances  can  arise,  which  he  cannot  overrule 
for  good  ?     And  how  unspeakable  the  consolation  of  know- 
ing that  the  same  divine  and  compassionate  Redeemer 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 


177 


who  suflfered,  and  bled,  and  died  on  our  account,  has  the 
entire  management  of  our  aflfairs  ;  that  the  same  love  which 
prompted  him  to  accomplish  the  work  of  our  redemption 
still  actuates  him  in  his  holy  administration,  and  calls  forth 
the  exertions  of  his  power  continually  in  our  behalf!    In 
proportion,  therefore,  to  our  persuasion  of  his  love,  should 
be  our  confidence  in  his  government ;  and  what  pledges  of 
love  can  we  desire  beyond  what  he  has  given  in  dying  for 
us  ?    Hence  an  apostle  argues,  "  If,  when  we  were  sinners, 
we  were  reconciled  to  God  by  the  death  of  his  Son,  how 
much  more,  being  reconciled,  shall  we  be  saved  by  his 
life  !"    Suffering  Christian,  you  who  are  deeply  concerned 
for  your  salvation,  and  who,  though  struggling  with  afflic- 
tion and  trial,  desire  nothing  so  much  as  to  overcome  sin 
and  to  please  God,  dismiss  from  your  heart  every  fear ; 
though  your  Saviour  may  permit  you  to  be  tried  by  many 
and  great  temptations,  he  will  deliver  you  from  the  evil  of 
them.     You  may  sometimes  be  in  the  fire,  but  you  shall 
not  be  burnt.     You  may  be  called  to  pass  through  the 
water,  but  you  shall  not  be  drowned.     Satan  may  desire 
to  have  you,  to  sift  you  as  wheat,  but  stronger  is  He  who 
is  with  you  than  all  who  are  against  you,  and  none  can  pluck 
you  out  of  his  hands.    In  yourself  you  are  weak  and  ready 
to  fall,  but  he  who  is  your  Redeemer  is  mighty,  and  he  is 
able  to  save  to  the  very  uttermost.     The  circumstances 
of  your  condition  may  be  embarrassing  and  perplexing,  but 
he  can  cause  "  all  things  to  work  together  for  your  good." 
He  is  precious  in  his  suitableness  to  our  necessities.    O, 
how  well  qualified  is  he  to  fulfill  the  office  of  a  Saviour ! 
However  great,  or  numerous  our  wants,  in  Christ  we  dis- 
cover an  ample  supply  provided.     "  It  hath  pleased  the 
Father  that  in  him  should  all  fullness  dwell."     What  dis- 
tress cannot  he  remove?    What  desire  cannot  he  fulfill? 
What  necessity  cannot  he  supply  ?     Are  we  in  a  lost  and 
perishing  condition  ?    Christ  is  «  a  Saviour  and  a  great 

8» 


178 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST   IN  AIFLICTION. 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF   CHRIST   IN  AFFLICTION. 


179 


one."  Are  we  blind  and  ignorant?  In  Christ  "are  hid 
all  the  treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge."  Are  we  tied 
and  bound  with  the  chain  of  our  sins  ?  Christ  "  proclaims 
liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prisons  to 
them  that  are  bound."  Are  we  under  condemnation? 
"  Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law, 
being  made  a  curse  for  us."  Are  we  polluted  ?  "  The 
blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  Are 
we  alienated  far  from  God  ?  We  "  are  made  nigh  by  the 
blood  of  Christ,"  and  "  are  no  more  strangers  and  foreigners, 
but  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and  of  the  household 
of  God."  Are  we  weak  and  helpless  ?  Christ  "  will  give 
strength  to  his  people."  "  He  is  a  strength  to  the  poor,  a 
strength  to  the  needy  in  their  distress."  In  a  word,  Christ 
is  a  remedy  exactly  suited  to  every  want.  He  is  "  a 
hiding  place  from  the  wind,  and  a  covert  from  the  tempest ; 
as  rivers  of  water  in  a  dry  place,  as  the  shadow  of  a  great 
rock  in  a  weary  land."  To  the  needy  sinner,  his  name  is 
indeed  as  ointment  poured  forth,  and  can  give  a  savor 
even  to  obsolete  poetry  : — 

"  Christ  is  a  path,  if  any  be  misled ; 
He  is  a  robe,  if  any  naked  be; 
If  any  chance  to  hunger,  he  is  bread ; 
If  any  be  a  bondman  he  is  free  ; 
If  any  be  but  weak,  how  strong  is  he ! 
To  dead  men,  life  he  is  ;  to  sick  men,  health 
To  blind  men,  sight;  and  to  the  needy,  wealth ; 
A  pleasure  without  loss ;  a  treasure  without  stealth." 

Thus  all-sufficient,  thus  fully  qualified  to  be  a  very  present 
help  in  time  of  trouble,  can  he  be  otherwise  than  precious 
in  the  estimation  of  his  people  ?  His  very  suitableness 
endears  him  to  them.  He  is  the  one  thing  needful — their 
all  and  in  all ;  everything  they  want.  More  they  cannot 
need  than  is  to  be  found  in  him,  and  in  his  salvation. 
Lastly,  his  immutahility  renders  him  precious.     This  is 


\ 


a  qualification  of  great  importance.     Who  does  not  see  that 
withoiit  it  he  could  not  be  a  proper  object  of  confidence  ? 
Immutability  of  character,  and  the  immutability  of  purpose 
resulting   from  it,  are  undoubtedly  the   only  objects    on 
which  rational  beings  can  ultimately  confide.    Were  Christ 
a  being  liable  to  fickleness  or  change— safety  could  not  be 
found,  reliance  could  not  be  exercised.     How  differently 
in  this  case  would  his  nature  and  offices,  his  laws,  designs, 
and  government  appear  to  us  !     Every  fresh  movement  in 
his  administration,  every  change   in  our  own  condition, 
would  excite  our  suspicions,  and  alarm  our  fears.     But 
with  him  there  is  no  variableness,  neither  shadow  of  turn- 
ing.    He  is  "  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever." 
In  the  commencement  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  the 
apostle  contrasts  hisunchangeableness  with  the  mutability  of 
the   heavens,  the  earth,  and  all  things  created :    "  Thou, 
Lord,  in  the  beginning,  hast  laid  the  foundation  of  the 
earth  ;  and  the  heavens  are  the  work  of  thy  hands  ;  they 
shall  perish  ;  but  thou  remainest ;  and  they  all  shall  wax 
old   as    doth  a   garment ;  and  as  a  vesture  shalt  thou  fold 
them  up,  and  they  shall  be  changed  ;  but  thou  art  the  same, 
and  thy  years  fail  not."     It  is  this  which  renders  him 
every  way  worthy  of  our  confidence.     Eternity  and  immu- 
tability are  written  in  clear  and  legible  characters  upon  every 
excellence  which  adorns  his  form.   His  wisdom  and  power, 
his  righteousness  and  truth,  his  clemency  and  love,  are  all 
unchangeable.     Changes  may  take  place  in  the  natural  and 
moral  worlds  ;  princes  may  be  driven  from  thrones,  king- 
doms may  be  shaken  to  their  foundations,  states  and  em- 
pires may  vanish  into  oblivion,  the  mountains  may  depart 
and  the  hills  be  removed,  the  sun  may  fly  from  his  axis, 
and  the  moon  be  arrested  in  her  course,  the  stars  may  fall, 
and  all  nature  become  one  universal  wreck;  but  Christ 
remaineth  the  same.      Our  own  condition  may  undergo 
many  fluctuations  from  health  to  sickness,  from  affluence  to 


180 


PRECIOUSNESS  OF  CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION. 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF    CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION. 


181 


poverty,  from  honor  to  reproach  ;  but  this  results  not  from 
any  departure  from  his  purposes,  or  any  change  in  his 
character.  In  his  own  existence,  in  the  thoughts  which 
he  admits,  in  the  promises  he  makes,  in  the  designs 
he  cherishes,  he  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for 
ever.  This  is  a  consideration  of  the  greatest  importance 
to  every  Christian.  "If  Jesus  Christ,"  says  he,  "whose 
mercy,  and  grace,  and  faithfulness,  I  experienced  yester- 
day, be  not  the  same  to-day,  I  am  undone,  for  I  continue 
the  subject  of  the  same  weaknesses  and  wants ;  I  am 
exposed  to  the  same  evils,  endangered  by  the  same 
enemies  ;  I  am  still,  and  must  continue  to  remain,  de- 
pendent upon  him  for  all  my  supplies.  If,  then,  those 
supplies  should  be  withdrawn — if  in  new  difficulties  and 
trials  I  have  not  direction,  and  comfort,  and  strength,  im- 
parted anew — if  in  the  conflicts  that  may  yet  await  me  I 
be  not  aided  by  the  Captain  of  salvation,  but  am  left 
alone  to  struggle  with  the  enemy — if  he  who  is  the  author 
of  my  faith  be  not  the  finisher  of  it  also,  how  can  I  per- 
severe ?  All  such  apprehensions  are,  however,  ground- 
less. He  is  the  true  friend  who  changeth  not.  He  will 
*keep  that  which  I  have  committed  to  him  against  that  day.' 
'  Who  then  shall  separate  me  from  the  love  of  Christ  ? 
Shall  tribulation,  or  distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or 
nakedness,  or  peril,  or  the  sword  ?  Nay,  in  all  these  things 
we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him  that  loved  us.' 
*  Neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principalities,  nor 
powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  height, 
nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate 
me  from  the  love  of  God  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our 
Lord.' " 

If,  reader,  you  are  a  Christian,  such  views  of  the  pre- 
ciousness  of  Christ  should  raise  your  heart  to  him  in 
gratitude  and  love,  and  should  cause  you  to  rejoice  in  his 
favor  as  your  most  precious  treasure.     In  all  your  afflic- 


. 


tions  confide  in  him  with  full  assurance  of  faith ;  rejoice 
in  him  with  full  assurance  of  hope.  Dismiss  from  your 
heart  every  fear  dishonorable  to  him,  and  injurious  to  your- 
self. Whatever  be  your  trials,  if  he  is  yours,  you  are 
blessed  eternally,  and  rich  beyond  expression.  Who  can 
accuse,  if  he  acquits  you  ?  Who  can  destroy,  if  he  pro- 
tects you  ?  Live  upon  his  fullness.  Be  not  afraid  to  com- 
mit all  your  interests  into  his  hands,  either  for  life  or  death, 
for  time  or  eternity.  He  will  do  all  things  well ;  and  lead 
you  by  a  right  way  to  a  city  of  habitations.  The  day  is 
fast  approaching  when  He  "  whom  your  soul  loveth"  shall 
no  longer  be  hidden  from  your  sight.  In  that  day  you  shall 
lift  up  your  head  with  joy.  With  transport  you  shall  wet 
come  the  glorious  appearing  of  you  great  God  and  Saviour. 
"  Lo,  this  is  our  God  :  we  have  waited  for  him,  and  he  will 
save  us.  This  is  the  Lord,  we  have  waited  for  him  ;  we 
will  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  his  salvation."  But  if,  unhap- 
pily, you  have  been  a  neglecter  of  spiritual  blessings,  con- 
sider that  nothing  can  supply  the  Saviour's  place.  With- 
out him  you  have  no  redeemer,  no  intercessor,  no  comforter, 
no  protector.  Without  Christ  you  have  no  one  to  defend 
you  from  Satan's  grasp ;  no  one  to  take  away  your  guilt;, 
or  to  avert  the  fatal  consequences  of  your  sins ;  no  one  to 
give  peace  to  a  troubled  conscience,  or  to  give  you  an  in- 
terest in  the  blessings  of  eternity.  While  he  is  slighted, 
you  are  destitute  of  every  spiritual  blessing;  you  are 
"  wretched,  and  miserable,  and  poor,  and  blind,  and  naked." 
Were  you  in  possession  of  health  and  prosperity — still, 
without  Christ,  your  case  would  be  lamentable  ;  how  much 
more  now  that  you  are  involved  in  sickness  or  adversity ! 
Whither  can  you  flee  for  health  and  comfort  ?  You  have 
no  confidence  in  Christ ;  for  you  have  slighted  and  rejected 
him.  He  is  not  your  Saviour ;  you  cannot  lean  upon  his 
arm,  for  you  have  no  part  in  him.  Will  any  of  the  idols  in 
which  you  have  trusted  now  give  you  consolation  ?     Will 


182 


PRECIOUSNESS   OF   CHRIST  IN  AFFLICTION. 


ihey  sustain  your  trembling  steps  ?  will  they  cheer  your 
sinking  spirits  1     Ah,  no !     They  are  all  lying  vanities, 
which  cannot  profit.     They  are  all  broken  reeds,  which 
only  pierce  the  hand  of  him  who  leans  upon  them.     Yet, 
what  you  now  experience  is  but  the  beginning  of  sorrows. 
A  still  greater  calamity  awaits  you.     A  dying  hour  is  not 
far  distant,  and  if  it  should  find  you  without  Christ,  it  would 
have  been  well  for  you  never  to  have  been  bom.     There 
will  be  nothing  to  shield  you  from  its  terrors.     It  will 
wrest  from  you  all  you  hold  dear.     It  will  terminate  your 
space  for  repentance.     It  will  sweep  away  your  hopes, 
and  overturn  every  foundation  on  which  you  are  building. 
It  will  put  a  seal  upon  your  character  and  destiny  for  ever. 
Hear  your  doom  pronounced  by  the  voice  of  him  who  can- 
not lie :  "  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Cursed  be  the  man  that 
trusteth  in   man,  and  maketh  flesh  his  arm,  and  whose 
heart  departeth  from  the   Lord."      "  Behold,  all  ye  that 
kindle  a  fire,  that  compass  yourselves  about  with  sparks  ; 
walk  in  the  light  of  your  fire,  and  in  the  sparks  ye  have 
kindled.     This  shall  ye  have  of  my  hand,  ye  shall  lie 
down   in   sorrow."     Only  one  way  of  escape  remains. 
Make  Christ  your  friend.     Let  it  be  your  immediate  con- 
cern.     And,  for  your  encouragement,  be  persuaded  that 
you  cannot  seek  him  in  vain.     He  waits  to  be  gracious. 
He  extends  to  you  the  golden  sceptre  of  his  love.     He 
invites  you  to  come  to  him  for  pardon,  peace,  and  holiness. 
"The  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.     And  let  him  that 
heareth  say,  Come.     And  let  him  that  is  athirst  come. 
And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  of  the  water  of  life 
freely." 


I 


PRAYER   IN  AFFLICTION. 


183 


1 


I 


PRAYER  IN  AFFLICTION. 

If  pains  afflict,  or  wrongs  oppress, 

If  cares  distract,  or  fears  dismay, 
If  guilt  deject,  if  sin  distress, 

The  remedy 's  before  thee — pray. 

Trials  make  the  promise  sweet, 

Trials  give  new  life  to  prayer, 
Trials  bring  me  to  His  feet. 

Lay  me  low,  and  keep  me  there. 

"  IN  THE  DAY  OF  MY  TROUBLE  I  WILL  CALL  UPON  THEE."— Psalm  Ixacxvi,  7. 

Of  all  the  duties  and  privileges  of  the  Christian  life, 
prayer  is  unquestionably  the  most  important.     It  is  the 
very  soul  of  all  true  religion,  and  the  channel  through 
which  God  usually  confers  the  blessings  of  his  grace.     It 
is   God's  appointed  method  of  access  to  himself,  in  the 
neglect  of  which  we  infallibly  exclude  ourselves  from  all 
gracious  intercourse,  and   every  promise   of  favor.     No 
blessing  of  salvation  is  promised  but  in  answer  to  sincere, 
fervent,  and  believing  supplication.     No  man,  therefore, 
can  be  a  partaker  of  saving  grace  that  lives  without  prayer. 
It  is  in  all  cases  an  assured  fact,  that  a  prayerless  person 
is  destitute  of  religion.     Nothing  can  supply  the  absence 
of  prayer.     If  this  be  wanting,  the  evils  of  our  fallen  nature 
remain  in  all  their  virulence,  and  threaten  us  with  all  their 
consequences.     Other  means  may  instruct  the  mind,  and 
impress  the  conscience  ;  but  prayer  brings  us  to  God,  and 
from  him  alone  deliverance  comes.     There  is  no  duty 
more  strongly  recommended  to  us  in  the  word  of  God,  or 
in  which  Christ  is  placed  before  us  more  prominently  as 
our  example.     It  is  not  less  a  privilege,  however,  than  a 
duty  ;  and  he  who,  either  in  prosperity  or  adversity,  makes 
it  his  dayly  practice  to  go  to  a  throne  of  grace,  and  "  in 


184 


PRAYER   IN  AFFLICTION. 


everything  by  prayer  and  supplication,  with  thanksgiving, 
makes  his  requests  known  unto  God,"  will,  from  his  own 
experience,  bear  testimony  to  the  truth  of  his  promise, 
"  The  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  understanding, 
shall  keep  your  hearts  and  minds  by  Christ  Jesus."  By 
prayer  we  are  admitted  into  the  presence  of  the  King  of 
kings  ;  we  hold  communion  with  the  Sovereign  of  the 
universe  ;  we  are  admitted  to  enjoy  confidential  intercourse 
with  Him,  before  the  blaze  of  whose  uncreated  glory,  not 
merely  the  throned  monarchs  of  earth,  but  even  the  throned 
principalities  of  heaven,  are  but  as  the  particles  of  shining 
dust  that  glitter  in  the  sunbeam ;  we  gain  access  to  the 
treasury  of  divine  grace,  and  a  liberty  to  take  freely,  to 
take  as  much  as  we  will,  of  everything  that  is  essential  to 
our  peace,  and  holiness,  and  safety ;  we  are  admitted  to 
speak  to  the  eternal  God  as  a  father ;  to  tell  him  all  we 
fear,  all  we  desire,  all  we  want ;  to  pour  out  all  our  com- 
plaints ;  to  plead  our  case  before  him ;  to  fill  our  mouth 
with  arguments ;  to  lay  hold  of  him,  and  not  let  him  go 
until  he  bless  us. 

"  A  soul  in  commerce  with  her  God  is  heaven. 


Prayer  ardent  opens  heaven,  lets  down  a  stream 

Of  glory  on  the  consecrated  hour 

Of  man  in  audience  with  the  Deity. 

Who  worships  the  great  God,  that  instant  joins 

The  first  in  heaven,  and  sets  his  foot  on  hell." 

But  while  prayer  is  a  duty,  incumbent  at  all  seasons,  and 
a  privilege,  which  the  highest  prosperity  afl!brds  no  reason 
for  neglecting,  it  is,  in  many  respects,  peculiarly  seasonable 
in  the  time  of  aflfliction.  It  is  therefore  recommended  by 
infinite  wisdom  and  goodness  :  *'  Is  any  afllicted?  let  him 
pray."  Whatever  may  be  the  cause  of  our  distress,  prayer 
is  our  duty,  and  our  appointed  relief.  This  is  the  universal 
remedy  which  our  divine  Physician  hath  prescribed  for  all 


PRATER   IN   AFFLICTION. 


185 


our  evils,  and  which  in  every  case  is  able  to  give  ease  and 
comfort  to  the  distressed  soul. 

Reader,  are  you  in  bodily  sickness  ?  Call  upon  God ; 
beg  of  him  to  support  you  under  your  pain,  and  to  give 
you  patience,  resignation,  and  submission  to  his  will.  It 
is  lawful,  too,  that  you  should  ask  for  the  removal  of  your 
affliction,  so  long  as  you  refer  the  time  and  the  manner, 
with  devout  submission,  to  God.  But,  above  all,  ask  for  a 
sanctified  use  of  your  affliction ;  that  the  sickness  of  the  body 
may  be  promotive  of  the  health  of  the  soul ;  that  you  may 
be  awakened  to  a  more  deep  and  effectual  sense  of  the 
importance  of  eternal  things  ;  of  your  state  as  a  sinner,  and 
of  Christ  as  the  only,  but  all-sufficient  Saviour ;  that  your 
affliction  may  become  a  means,  through  the  divine  bless- 
ing, of  producing  a  death  unto  sin,  and  a  new  birth  unto 
righteousness,  and  of  causing  you  to  perfect  holiness  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord.  Or,  if  your  sickness  should  be  unto 
death,  then  pray  for  a  readiness  for  that  awful  event,  nor 
cease  to  urge  your  suit  until,  in  the  fullness  of  a  sanctified 
spirit,  you  can  say,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly." 

Are  you  afflicted  with  the  loss  of  relatives  and  friends  ? 
Call  upon  God.  Let  not  sorrow  prey  upon  your  heart  in 
gloomy  sadness,  or  vent  itself  in  rebellious  murmurings ; 
but  act  like  the  disciples  of  John,  who,  when  their  master 
was  taken  from  them  by  a  violent  death,  buried  the  body, 
and  "  went  and  told  Jesus."  Ask  for  the  submission  of 
the  venerable  Eli,  "  It  is  the  Lord,  let  him  do  what  seemeth 
him  good."  Ask  for  the  patient  resignation  of  Job,  "  Shall 
we  receive  good  at  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  shall  we  not 
receive  evil  ?"  Ask  for  the  confidence  of  David,  "  I  shall 
go  to  him,  but  he  shall  not  return  to  me."  "  Although  my 
house  be  not  so  with  God,  yet  he  hath  made  with  me  an 
everlasting  covenant,  ordered  in  all  things  and  sure.  Thjs 
is  my  salvation,  and  all  my  desire." 

Are  you  afflicted  in  your  temporal  circumstances — strug- 


186 


PRAYER   IN  AFFLICTION. 


gling  with  poverty — reduced  from  a  state  of  competence, 
and  deprived  in  a  great  measure  of  the  means  of  providing 
for  the  support  of  your  family  ?  Call  upon  God.  "  The 
world  is  his,  and  the  fullness  thereof"  Whatever  he  sees 
requisite  for  your  real  good  he  can  bestow,  and,  if  you  are 
a  Christian,  he  will  bestow.  Spread  all  your  troubles  and 
distresses  before  him ;  he  can  afford  relief  and  support 
when  all  other  resources  fail,  and  he  never  said  to  any, 
"  Seek  ye  me  in  vain."  If  your  heart  is  conscious  that 
hitherto  you  have  been  a  stranger  to  religion,  beg  of  God 
to  overrule  your  poverty  as  the  happy  means  of  making 
you  spiritually  rich  ;  and  your  scanty  fare  as  the  means 
of  giving  you  a  relish  for  the  bread  that  endureth  to  life 
everlasting.  Or,  if  you  are  a  Christian,  seek  of  God 
increasing  contentment  and  resignation  to  your  lot,  what- 
ever it  may  be,  and  faith  to  realize  that  blessed  state  to 
which  you  are  tending,  where  poverty  and  distress  shall 
exist  no  more. 

Does  your  distress  arise  from  a  spiritual  apprehension 
of  guilt  arid  danger  1  Painful  as  this  may  be  to  you,  it 
furnishes  a  subject  for  congratulation  ;  for  the  soul  that  has 
never  known  spiritual  trouble,  has  never  known  ari^^ht 
spiritual  joy ;  the  soul  that  has  never  been  wounded  with 
a  sense  of  sin,  has  never  been  healed  by  the  blood  of  Jesus ; 
and  the  soul  that  has  never  trembled  for  its  safety,  is 
indeed  in  a  state  of  the  most  awful  danger.  The  deep 
anxiety  which  you  feel,  and  which  prompts  the  earnest 
inquiry,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  proves  that  you 
are  in  the  way  of  mercy.  You  are  especially  invited  to 
cast  your  burden  upon  the  Lord.  There  is  forgiveness 
with  him.  Read  your  Bible,  and  you  will  find  that  through- 
out it  invites  you  to  turn  to  the  Lord,  and  even  puts  words 
into  your  mouth  :  say  unto  him,  "  Take  away  all  iniquity, 
and  receive  us  graciously  ;  so  will  we  render  the  calves 
of  our  lips."     Come,  therefore,  and  plead  with  God  ;  plead 


PRAYER    IN    AFFLICTION. 


167 


as  a  child  with  a  father ;  plead  as  one  who  has  a  friendly 
hearing  promised,  nay  secured;  and  thus  make  known, 
without  reserve,  your  every  thought.  Pour  out  your  heart ; 
persevere  in  supplication  ;  "  God  is  a  refuge  for  us." 

Arc  you  afflicted  by  the  infirmities  and  grievances  of  old 
age  ?  Call  upon  God.  Say  with  David,  "  Cast  me  not  off 
in  the  time  of  old  ao^e  ;  forsake  me  not  when  my  strength 
faileth.  O  God,  thou  hast  taught  me  from  my  youth  :  now 
also  when  I  am  old  and  gray-headed,  O  God,  forsake  me 
not."  In  short,  whatever  evil  it  may  be  that  oppresseth 
your  soul,  let  your  resource  be  a  throne  of  grace. 

The  design  of  affliction  is  to  call  forth  the  exercise  of 
prayer.     The  heart  of  man  is  naturally  estranged  'from 
God.     While  he  remains  in  this  state,  the  thought  of  God 
is  unwelcome  to  him ;  it  exists  in  his  mind  as  a  stranger 
in  a  foreign  land ;  its  connection  with  the  general  mass 
of  thought  is  slight,  and  unmarked  by  sympathy,  or  affec- 
tion, or  inHuence.     So  far  from  seeking  after  intercourse 
with  his  Maker,  the  sinner's  chief  concern  is  to  do  without 
God,  willing  to  forego  all  the  comforts  and  hopes  which  he 
sees  some  derive  from  the  remembrance  of  him,  if  thus 
he  may  but  avoid  the  checks  and  the  unpleasantness  which, 
to  him  at  least,  it  brings  ;  hence  his  aversion  to  the  exer- 
cise of  prayer.     With  the  idea  of  God,  however,  there  is 
always  associated  in  his  mind  that  of  almighty  power,  and 
of  an  ability  to  control  all  events.     When,  therefore,  ca- 
lamity beats  down  his  loftiness,  and  impresses  upon  his 
mind  a  deep  sense   of  helplessness,  when  he  is  brought 
into  circumstances  in  which  his  own  resources  become 
totally  unavailing,  then,  in  his  extremity,  as  his  last,  his 
only  resource,  he  betakes  himself  to  God.     Many  will  then 
call  upon  God  in  earnest  supplication  who  never  engaged 
in  prayer  before.     See  the  rude  and  thoughtless  sailor: 
the  usual  current  of  his  days  has  been  characterized  by 
folly,  intemperance,  and  impiety ;  night  after  night  he  re- 


188 


PRAYER    IN   AFFLICTION. 


PRAYER    IN  AFFLICTION. 


189 


tires  to  his  hammock  without  any  reference  of  the  mind 
either  to  the  God  above,  or  to  the  hell  beneath  him ;  and 
even  when  the  gale  arises  which  will  ultimately  prove  the 
occasion  of  the  destruction  of  his  vessel  and  of  himself,  he 
braves  its  growing  violence  with  reckless  daring,  so  long 
as  there  remains  a  possibility  of  escape ;  but  when  at 
length  the  ship  is  dashed  upon  the  rocks,  and  the  rush  of 
waters  announces  in  thrilling  sounds  the  certainty  of  de- 
struction, then  the  earnest  and  importunate  cry  for  mercy 
and  for  help  is  heard  to  burst  from  his  lips,  which  before 
had  seldom  uttered  the  name  of  God  but  in  the  language 
of  imprecation  and  blasphemy.  In  like  manner  we  have 
seen'a  family  spending  a  series  of  years  in  prosperity, 
devoted  to  fashion,  worldliness,  and  folly,  as  totally  devoid 
of  religious  concern,  and  as  destitute  of  spiritual  emotion, 
as  if  all  ideas  of  God,  or  of  moral  obligation,  or  of  personal 
responsibility,  had  been  actually  expunged  from  their  minds : 
in  a  moment  of  gayety,  when  all  was  excitement,  one  of 
their  number  has  been  seized  by  the  hand  of  death :  re- 
ligious fear  has  instantly  impressed  their  minds  ;  and  those 
to  whom  the  thought  of  prayer  was,  a  few  moments  before, 
as  foreign  as  the  thought  of  death,  now,  in  an  agony  of 
soul,  solicit  the  prayers  of  others,  and  even  themselves 
implore  mercy  at  the  hands  of  God.  It  is  true  that  in  such 
cases  prayer  is  usually  to  be  regarded  as  nothing  more 
than  the  cry  of  nature  in  distress ;  but  though  disconnected 
from  those  emotions  of  the  soul  which  are  essential  to  the 
prayer  that  availeth  with  God,  yet  the  impression  produced 
in  a  season  of  affliction  may  be  made  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
the  means  of  effecting  a  saving  change.  God  acts  on  the 
minds  of  men  by  rational  inducements ;  when  they  are 
dead  to  the  influence  of  higher  and  more  spiritual  motives, 
he  has  recourses  to  their  sentient  nature,  he  addresses 
their  hopes  and  fears ;  in  the  absence  of  holier  principles 
he  appeals  to  their  love  of  happiness,  and  their  dread  of 


suffering,  and  thus  endeavors  to  arrest  the  attention,  to 
reach  the  conscience,  and  to  renew  the  heart.  The  im- 
pressions made  upon  the  mind  in  a  season  of  distress  may 
be  the  result,  in  a  great  measure,  of  natural  feelings ;  but 
if  they  lead  the  sufferer  to  pray,  they  bring  him  under  a 
new  influence,  which  may  give  to  them  a  new  and  spiritual 
character,  and  cause  them  to  terminate  in  salvation.  In  all 
cases  affliction  is  sent  that  men  may  be  induced  to  pray, 
and  to  pray  in  order  that  they  may  be  saved.  Reader, 
hast  thou  lived  in  the  neglect  of  prayer,  and  in  a  state  of 
estrangement  from  God  ?  In  what  manner,  then,  has  your 
affliction  operated  ?  A  trial  is  never  neutral  in  its  effect. 
It  always  injures  or  improves.  It  is  worse  than  nothing 
when  it  sends  us  to  the  creature  either  in  a  way  of  accu- 
sation or  relief.  But  when  we  turn  to  him  that  smiteth 
us,  and  acknowledge  that  his  judgments  are  right,  and  cast 
ourselves  at  his  feet,  resolved,  if  we  perish,  there  to  die ; 
then  the  affliction  has  done  something  for  us,  and  will  do 

still  more. 

But  a  Christian  is  always  a  praying  man :  true,  but  how 
often  has  he  to  lament  over  the  coldness  of  his  heart,  and 
the  reluctance  which  he  feels  to  approach  a  throne  of 
grace  !  How  many  can  testify,  from  experience,  that  while 
in  prosperity  the  spirit  of  devotion  imperceptibly  declined, 
so  that  they  gradually  lost  all  relish  for  prayer,  and  instead 
of  enjoying  it  as  a  privilege,  they  rather  regarded  it  as  an 
irksome  duty ;  and  how  often  in  consequence  has  affliction 
been  rendered  necessary  to  rouse  their  energies,  and  to 
excite  them  to  fervor !  When  Absalom  wished  to  see  Joab 
he  sent  a  messenger,  but  he  would  not  come ;  he  sent  a 
second,  still  he  refused  :  what  was  to  be  done  ?  "  See," 
said  Absalom  to  his  servants,  "  Joab's  field  is  near  mine, 
and  he  has  barley  there  ;  go  and  set  it  on  fire,  and  he  will 
soon  come  out  to  know  the  reason."  And  so  it  was. 
"  Then  Joab  arose,  and  came  to  Absalom,  unto  his  house, 


190 


PRAYER    IN    AFFLICTION. 


and  said  unto  him,  Wherefore  have  thy  servants  set  my 
field  on  fire  ?"     "  Not,"  replied  Absalom,  "  because  I  wish 
to  do  thee  an  injury,  but  because  I  wanted  to  have  inter- 
course with  thee,  and  could  obtain  it  in  no  other  way." 
Thus  when  we  become  indifferent  to  communion  with  God, 
and  disregard  the  successive  messages  of  his  word,  God 
says  to  some  fiery  trial,  "  Go,  and  consume  such  an  idol- 
take  away  such  an  enjoyment,  and  he  will  soon  be  with 
me,   saying,  *  Show  me  wherefore   thou  contendest  with 
me.'  "     How  many  can  look  back  to  the  place  of  affliction, 
and  say,  "  There  it  was  my  soul  poured  out  many  prayers 
to  God!    Ah!  what  deep  humiliation,  what   earnest  de- 
sires,  what  fervent  applications  were  produced  by  that 
trial !    It  aroused  me  from  the  lethargy  into  which  I  had 
fallen,  and  awakened  me  to  greater  ardor  and  diligence  in 
prayer,  and  to  communion  with  God,  such  as  I  had  not 
enjoyed  before." 

Prayer  is  the  solace  of  affliction.  There  is  some  relief 
even  in  tears.  We  have  been  told  of  the  luxury  of  weep- 
ing.  So  long  as  the  feelings  of  a  sufferer  are  restrained 
and  shut  up  within  his  own  bosom,  they  prey  upon  his 
internal  peace.  While  David  kept  silence  his  bones  waxed 
old  ;  but  when  the  feelings  obtain  a  channel  through  which 
they  find  utterance  and  expansion,  the  heart  is  relieved,  at 
least  of  part  of  its  burden.  It  eases  and  soothes  the  burst- 
ing heart  to  pour  our  grief  into  the  car  of  a  friend  who  truly 
sympathizes  with  us,  and  who,  rejoicing  when  we  rejoice, 
will  also  weep  when  we  weep.  But  O,  to  turn  aside  as 
Job  did,  and  say,  "  Mine  eye  poureth  out  tears  unto  God  !" 
to  tell  him  all  that  distresses,  and  all  that  alarms  us,  with 
a  confidence  in  his  compassion,  and  sympathy,  and  power, 
and  wisdom ;  like  the  child  which  sobs  itself  to  sleep  in 
its  mother's  arms,  and  on  its  mother's  bosom ;  here  is  an 
asylum  from  which  no  enemy  can  cut  us  off;  here  is  a 
sanctuary  where  no  evil  can  enter ;  here  is  a  calm  in  the 


PRAYER    IN   AFFLICTION. 


191 


midst  of  the  wildest  storms  ;  here  is  a  joy  in  the  midst  of 
the  deepest  tribulations.  It  is  said  that  travelers  in  Alpine 
regions,  as  they  ascend  toward  the  summit  of  those  lofty 
mountains,  often  enjoy  a  clear  atmosphere  and  an  unclouded 
sun,  while  the  world  below  them  is  involved  in  mists  and 
darkness,  and  the  tempest  is  raging  beneath  their  feet. 
Thus  prayer  elevates  the  Christian  above  the  clouds  and 
storms  that  darken  and  distract  the  world  below.  By 
communion  with  God  he  gains  a  region  of  peace  and 
tranquillity,  where  the  sunshine  of  God's  favor  beams  upon 
his  soul,  while  he  sees  the  thunder  clouds  of  earthly  care 
and  sorrow  rolling  beneath  his  feet;  thus  realizing  the 
beautiful  illustration  of  the  poet, — 

"  As  Bome  tall  cliff  that  lifts  its  awful  form, 
Swells  from  the  vale  aiid  midway  leaves  the  storm, 
Though  round  its  base  the  rolling  clouds  are  spread, 
Eternal  sunshine  settles  on  its  head." 

By  prayer  the  mind  is  brought  into  immediate  contact 
with  the  supreme  will ;  the  sovereignty  of  God  is  felt  and 
acknowledged ;  the  wisdom  of  his  dispensations  is  recog- 
nized, and  the  faithfulness  and  love  of  God  become  objects 
of  joyous  contemplation  and  delightful  hope.     The  believer 
feels  that  in  God  he  has  a  friend— a  friend  who  will  never 
leave  nor  forsake  him ;  hence  his  soul  becomes  resigned 
and  thankful,  and  is  placed  in  the  best  condition  for  at  once 
procuring  the  mitigation  of  his  sorrow,  and  of  profiting  by 
the  afiliction  which  has  occasioned  it.     I  do  not  wonder, 
therefore,  that  David  should  say,  "  It  is  good  for  me  to  draw 
nigh  unto  God  ;"  or  that  Hannah,  when  she  had  poured  out 
her  soul  before  God,  should  go  her  way,  and  eat  and  drink, 
and  her  countenance  be  no  more  sad.     Let  it  not,  however, 
be  supposed  that  prayer  will  operate  as  a  charm,  or  that 
it  will  be  productive  of  instantaneous  relief  in  all  cases  to 
the  same  extent.     The  preceding  remarks  are  intended  to 


192 


PRAYER   IN   AFFLICTION. 


apply  to  the  genuine  Christian.     With  one  who  is  a  stran- 
ger to  God  the  case  must  be  widely  different,  at  least  for 
a  time.     In  his  heart  the  bitterness  of  calamity  is  aggra- 
vated by  a  consciousness  of  guilt,  and  desert  of  punishment ; 
and  one  of  the  severest   struggles   which   affliction   will 
awaken  in  the  bosom  of  such  a  man,  will  be  that  occasioned 
by  a  sense  of  duty  and  of  danger,  which  on  the  one  hand 
impels  him  to  seek  refuge  in  God,  and  on  the  other,  holds 
him  back  under  an  apprehensiop  of  meeting  with  a  curse 
instead  of  a  blessing,  on  account  of  his  past  transgressions. 
Should,  however,  the  former  impulse  prevail,  so  as  to  bring 
him  to  a  throne  of  grace,  with  strong  cries  and  tears,  yet, 
until  he  receive  into  his  heart  a  clear  assurance  of  God's 
forgiving  love,  he  will  be  more  or  less  straitened  by  fear, 
chilled  by  doubt,  or  stung  by  remorse.     Yet,  let  not  the 
most  guilty  despair,  or  give  up  the  effort  because  of  such 
feelings.     All  guilty  as  they  are,  God  is  waiting  to  be 
gracious.     To  them,  no  less  than  to  others,  is  the  warrant 
of  prayer  addressed,  and  the  promise  of  an  answer  given. 
Christ  came  into  the  world  to  meet  your  case,  and  to  pro- 
vide for  the  difficulties  you  feel.     The  very  sins  which  rise 
up  before  you,  like  so  many  appalling  spectres,  you  may 
transfer  to  him,  and  he  will  turn  them  off  into  the  wilder- 
ness, and  they  shall  trouble  you  no  more.     The  remedy 
which  Job  cried  out  for  in  his  calamity  we  find  in  Christ. 
"  God  is  not  a  man  as  I  am,"  said  the  despairing  sufferer, 
"  that  I  should  answer  him,  and  we  should  come  together 
in  judgment;  neither  is  there  any  daysman  betwixt  us 
that  might  lay  his  hand  upon  us  both :  let  him  but  take 
his  rod  away  from  me,  and  let  not  his  fear  terrify  me,  then 
would  I  speak  and  not  fear  him.'*     Afflicted  sinner,  that 
daysman  is  your  Saviour,  Jesus  Christ.     He  can  take  your 
arm,  and  lead  you  up  to  God,  and  put  your  hand  in  his, 
and  make  peace  between  you.     He  can  turn  away  the  rod, 
and  disperse  the  wrath ;  therefore  put  your  faith  in  him, 


PRAYER  IN   AFFLICTION. 


193 


and  come  by  him,  and  make  known  without  reserve  your 
every  thought.      "Him  that  cometh  unto  me,"  he  says, 
"  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out."     Nothing  have  you  so  much 
to  dread  as  the  relinquishment  of  prayer.     To  give  up 
prayer  is  to  give  up  all  help,  all  hope ;  it  is  to  defeat  the 
design  of  providential  chastisement,  and  to  render  all  effort 
for  the  promotion  of  your  salvation  unavailing ;  for  if  men 
will  not  pray  when  affliction  overwhelms  them,  what  else 
can  prove  efficacious  ?  Nothing  short  of  the  terrors  of  that 
day  when  prayer  shall  be  useless,  and  when,  in  answer  to 
their  cry,  "  Lord,  Lord,  open  unto  us,"  they  will  only  hear 
these  awful  words,  "  I  never  knew  you;  depart  from  me." 
Prayer  is  the  medium  of  our  relief  in  trouble.     For  this 
relief  we  are  allowed  to  be  concerned ;  but  we  must  seek 
it  from  God.     And  in  doing  this  we  have  not  only  his  power 
to  encourage  us,  but  also  his  mercy  and  love.     Yea  more, 
we  have  his  faithfulness  and  truth,  that  we  shall  not  seek 
him  in  vain.     He  hath  engaged  to  deliver  us.     He  hath 
bound  himself,  and  put  the  bond  into  our  hand,  and  we 
can  produce  it,  and  plead  it,  and  be  surer  of  its  fulfillment 
than  we  are  of  the  continuance  of  heaven  and  earth,  "  for 
heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  his  word  shall  not 
pass."     Here  it  is  :  "  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  all  them  that 
call  upon  him,  to  all  that  call  upon  him  in  truth."     "  Call 
upon  me  in  the  day  of  trouble  ;  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou 
Shalt  glorify  me."     "  The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  the 
righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open  unto  their  prayers."    "  Ask, 
and  it  shall  be  given  you;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find;  knock, 
and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you."     "  If  ye  being  evil  know 
how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children,  how  much  more 
shall  your  Father,  which  is  in  heaven,  give  good  things  to 
them  that  ask  him !"     "  If  ye  shall  ask  anything  in  my 
name,  I  will  do  it."     "  If  ye  abide  in  me,  and  my  words 
abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will,  and  it  shall  be 
done  'jnto  you."     And  how  abundantly  has  God  verified  his 

9 


194 


PRAYER    IN   AFFLICTION. 


promises  in  the  experience  of  his  people  in  all  ages  !  The 
sacred  writings  are  full  of  examples  of  the  efficacy  of  prayer, 
and  especially  of  the  certain  relief  it  secures  in  the  time  of 
affliction.  Jacob,  when  alarmed  at  the  approach  of  his 
brother  Esau,  and  expecting  to  be  destroyed  together  with 
his  family,  prayed  to  God,  and  prevailed,  and  Esau  became 
his  friend.  When  Israel  was  oppressed  with  the  Philis- 
tines, Samuel  prayed,  and  those  invaders  were  scattered 
and  fled.  When  Hezekiah  was  nigh  unto  death,  he  prayed, 
and  fifteen  years  were  added  to  his  life.  When  afterward 
his  country  was  invaded  by  the  army  of  Sennacherib,  and 
threatened  with  ruin,  again  he  prayed,  and  in  one  night  an 
angel  of  the  Lord  destroyed  one  hundred  and  eighty-five 
thousand  of  that  apparently  irresistible  host.  Daniel  and 
his  companions,  when  threatened  with  destruction,  because 
unable  to  tell  the  prophetic  dream  of  Nebuchadnezzar, 
prayed,  and  the  dream  and  the  interpretation  were  made 
known  to  them.  Jonah,  amid  the  swellings  of  the  deep, 
prayed,  and  obtained  deliverance  "  from  the  belly  of  helk" 
Nineveh,  warned  by  the  prophet  of  impending  ruin,  prayed, 
and  God  turned  aside  the  half-descending  stroke.  Peter 
was  thrown  into  prison  by  Herod;  the  church  of  God 
prayed  without  ceasing  for  his  deliverance,  and  their  prayer 
was  more  powerful  than  chains,  and  bolts,  and  prison  doors, 
and  armed  guards.  An  angel  liberated  Peter,  and  he  be- 
came to  those  who  were  praying  for  him  the  reporter  of 
his  own  deliverance.  Paul  and  Silas  were  imprisoned  at 
Philippi,  thrown  into  the  inner  dungeon,  and  their  feet 
made  fast  in  the  stocks  :  they  prayed,  and  an  earthquake 
shook  the  prison  to  its  foundation,  and  all  its  doors  were 
opened,  and  every  one's  bonds  were  loosed.  Such  are 
some  of  the  memorable  instances  recorded  in  the  sacred 
volume  of  the  success  of  prayer  in  times  of  trouble. 
While  viewing  them,  who  may  not  see  that 

"  Prayer  moves  the  baud  that  moves  the  world  !" 


PRAYER  IN   AFFLICTION. 


195 


Whatever  evil,  therefore,  it  is  that  oppresses  your  soul, 
have  speedy  recourse  to  the  throne  of  grace  ;  pour  out  your 
heart  into  the  ear  of  the  Father  of  mercies,  the  God  of  all 
comfort,  and  be  sure  it  cannot  be  in  vain.     All  things  are 
possible  to  prayer  that  are  possible  to  God.     It  can  deliver 
from  danger-avert  judgments-procure  blessmgs  ;  it  can 
obtain  pardon  for  sin-furnish  strength  against  temptation 
—mitigate  the  extremity  of  suffering-sustain  our  infirmi- 
ties— remove  dejection— increase  our  graces— abate  our 
corruptions-sweeten  the  bitterness  of  affliction-open  the 
windows  of  heaven-shut  up  the  bars  of  death-vanquish 
the  powers  of  hell ;  pray,  therefore,  and  be  happy.     To 
this,  however,  some  may  be  ready  to  oppose  their  own 
experience  as  to  the  efficacy  of  prayer  m  F^venting  or 
removing  outward  calamity.    We  have,  say  they,  earnestly 
and  frequently  supplicated  for  mercies  which  were  never- 
theless  withheld,  and  deprecated  trials  wMch  were  never- 
theless sent,  or  suffered  to  continue.     The  ol,ec^^^^^^^^^^^ 
be  found  to  originate  in  a  misapprehension  of  the  Promise 
annexed  to  prayer,  or  of  the  nature  o   P-yer  i^^lf^    ^^^^ 
we  pray,  either  that  some  temporal  calamity  may  be  re 
Toved,  or  some  temporal  blessing  bestowed  we  are  always 
To  keep  a  reserve  upon  our  wishes,  including  submission 
to  the  will  of  God,  and  a  reference  to  our  real  welfare  ;  for 
we  are  so  ignorant  of  what  is  really  good  for  us,  tha  we 
„.ay  be  more  injured  by  the  gratification  of  our  desires  than 
Ty  Ihe  refusal  of  them.     There  can  be  no  doubuhat  ^e^^^^ 
every  desire  we  express  in  prayer  to  meet  with  a  direct 
and  Uteral  fulfillment,  the  efficacy  of  prayer  through  our 
Lnorance  of  what  is  really  good  for  us,  would  become  a 
TrcroTcaLity  rather  thL  of  comfort.    "  Who  kiiowe^ 
what  is  good  for  man  in  this  life,  a^l  the  day    of  h-^^^^^ 
life  which  he  spendeth  as  a  shadow?       Why,  ^^  ' 
he  only.    Refer,  therefore,  the  decision  to  him       t  ^  your 
interest,  as  well  as  duty,  to  leave  him  to  choose  all  for  you. 


196 


PRAYER   IN  AFFLICTION. 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


197 


"  Hia  choice  is  safer  tlian  your  own ; 

Of  ages  past  inquire, 
What  the  most  formidable  fate  ? 
To  have  your  own  desire." 

Hence  the  prayer  which  Socrates  taught  his  pupil  Al- 
cibiades  is  not  unworthy  to  be  used  by  a  Christian  :  "  That 
he  should  beseech  the  supreme  Being  to  give  him  what 
was  good  for  him,  though  he   should  not  ask  it ;  and  to 
withhold  from  him  whatever  was  injurious,  if,  by  his  folly, 
he  should  be  led  to  pray  for  it."     If,  however,  God  denies 
our  request,  because  in  ignorance  we  ask  a  stone  in  the 
place  of  bread,  or  a  scorpion  when  we  should  ask  for  fish, 
he  never  fails  to  give  us  something  in  the  place  of  what 
he  denies  which  is  more  than  an  equivalent.     While  God 
engages  to  answer  prayer,  he  reserves  to  himself  the  right 
of  answering  it  in  his  own  way ;  but  in  doing  so  he  is 
influenced  not  by  caprice,  but  by  a  regard  to  our  welfare. 
Thus  the  thrice-repeated  request  of  his  servant  Paul  was 
granted.     He  asked  for  deliverance  from  the  thorn  in  the 
flesh,  the  messenger  of  Satan  which  was  sent  to  bufl^et 
him  ;  but,  instead  of  removing  it,  God  gave  him  grace  to 
bear  it  patiently,   and,  by  its  continuance,  promoted  his 
humiliation  at  a  time  when  he  was  in  danger  of  being 
lifted  up  above   measure   through  the   abundance  of  the 
revelations.     If,  therefore,  the  answers  which  God  sends 
to  our  prayers  do  not  always  correspond  with  our  requests, 
the  change  is  always  for  our  benefit.    If,  for  instance,  when 
we  implore  deliverance  from  trouble,  he  gives  us  patience 
under  it,  and  enables  us  to  derive  advantage  from  it,  our 
prayer  is  answered,  and  God's  veracity  is  free  from  stain. 
If  we  solicit  consolation,  and  he  prepares  us  for  it  by  in- 
creased humiliation,  our  request  is  granted,  and  granted  in 
a  way  that  is  more  conducive  to  our  benefit  than  if  the 
blessing  which  we  desired  of  him  had  been  immediately 
bestowed. 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 

Faith,  like  a  simple,  unsuspecting  child, 

Serenely  resting  on  its  mother's  arm, 
Reposing  every  care  upon  her  God, 

Sleeps  on  his  bosom,  and  expects  no  harm ; 

Receives  with  joy  the  promises  he  makes, 
Nor  questions  of  his  purpose  or  his  power; 

She  does  not  doubting  ask,  Can  this  be  so? 
The  Lord  hath  said  it,  and  there  needs  no  more. 

However  deep  be  the  mysterious  word, 

However  dark,  she  disbelieves  it  not ; 
Where  reason  would  examine,  faith  obeys. 

And  "  it  is  written  "  answers  every  doubt. 

"HE  WHO  TRUSTETH  IN   THE  LORD.  MERCY   SHALL  COMPASS  HIM 
ABOUT."— Psalm  xxxii,  10. 

Nothing  is  more  plainly  asserted  in  Scripture  than  the 
vast  importance  of  faith.     Eminently  distinguished  is  the 
office  assigned  to  it  in  the  word  of  God.     Through  faith 
we  are  saved.     It  is  the  principle  of  all  religion      It  is 
the  only  medium  through  which  we  can  enjoy  the  blessmgs 
of  the  gospel,  experience  its  comforts,  fulfill  its  duties,  or 
realize  its  triumphs,  in  a  victory  over  the  world,  the  flesh, 
and  the  devil.     It  is  of  the  highest  importance  in  connec- 
tion with  a  state  of  affliction,  since  it  is  by  faith  alone  that 
we  can  be  prepared  for  it,  supported  under  it,  sanctified  by 
it,  or  that  we  can  realize  its  glorious  recompense  m  the 

world  to  come.  i .  „„  ,„ 

Faith  in  ite  general  sense,  and  considered  only  as  an 
act  of  the  intellect,  is  the  persuasion  that  certain  propo- 
sitions are  true ;  and  Christian  faith  is,  in  this  respect,  a  per- 
suasion of  the  truth  of  what  God  has  revealed  '"  l"s  worcL 
But  though  this  is  the  basis  of  that  faith  of  which  such 


198 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


FAITH    IN   AFFLICTION. 


199 


excellent  things  are  spoken,  yet  it  is  not  that  faith  itself. 
The  subject  of  the  divine  testimony  is  not  like  a  problem 
in  mathematics,  which  appeals  exclusively  to  the  under- 
standing ;  in  this  case  mere  assent,  or  a  perception  of  the 
truth  of  the  proposition,  is  all  that  belief  contains.  This  is, 
indeed,  a  preparatory  step  toward  true  faith,  but  it  is  only 
a  preparatory  step,  and  the  man  who  advances  no  further 
will  fail  of  attaining  the  faith  of  the  gospel ;  and  were  he 
to  die  with  no  other  belief  than  this,  he  would  die  under 
the  frown  of  God,  and  be  miserable  for  ever.  That  faith, 
therefore,  whereof  cometh  salvation,  is  much  more  than  a 
mere  act  of  the  intellect.  It  is  not  an  edifice  which  can 
be  built  up  solely  by  arguments  and  inferences  upon  the 
foundation  of  historical  verity ;  but  must  be  raised,  and 
strengthened,  and  drawn  out  into  full  and  proper  proportion 
by  the  divine  Spirit  operating  upon  the  heart.  In  point  of 
fact,  it  is  a  work  of  the  heart,  "  for  with  the  heart  man 
believeth  unto  righteousness ;"  and,  said  Philip  to  the 
eunuch,  "  If  thou  believest  with  all  thine  heart,  thou 
may  est"  be  baptized.  As  the  heart  is  represented  as  the 
seat  of  the  affections,  to  believe  with  the  heart  suggests 
not  merely  the  idea  of  confidence  in  a  truth  proposed,  but 
the  cordial  reception  of  that  truth — such  a  reception  as 
influences  the  affections  and  the  conduct.  Thus  the  word 
faith  is  derived  from  a  verb  which  signifies  to  persuade, 
and  is  admirably  described,  both  as  to  the  principle  and  its 
influence,  by  the  writer  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews, 
when  he  represents  the  patriarchs  as  actuated  by  it : 
"  These  all  died  in  faith,  not  having  received  the  promises, 
but  having  seen  them  afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them, 
and  embraced  them,  and  confessed  that  they  were  strangers 
and  pilgrims  upon  earth."  This  description  shows  that 
while  their  judgment  assented,  their  affections  were 
engaged,  their  will  was  directed,  and  their  life  regu- 
lated.    Were  faith  nothing  more  than   an  assent  of  the 


understanding,  there  could  be  nothing  moral  in  its  nature. 
We  cannot  affirm  of  anything  merely  intellectual  that  it 
is  a  matter  of  duty,  for  can  that  which  is  exclusively  men- 
tal contain  either  moral  good  or  evil  ?  Besides,  if  belief 
be  merely  an  intellectual  exercise,  so  is  unbelief,  for  they 

are  opposites. 

General  faith  has  respect  to  all  that  God  has  revealed 
in  the  Scriptures,  whether  it  be  invitation  or  promise, 
command  or  threatening,  prophecy  or  history.  **  Faith," 
the  apostle  says,  "  is  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen,  the 
substance  of  things  hoped  for."  It  is  the  certain  belief  of 
truths  incapable  of  demonstration  to  our  limited  understand- 
ing ;  the  sure  expectation  of  things  to  come  to  pass  here- 
af^er  ;  a  belief  and  expectation  resting  altogether  upon  the 
revektion  and  promise  of  God  :  for  as  things  invisible  and 
future  cannot  be  objects  of  sense  or  knowledge,  properly 
80  called ;  these  must  be  embraced  by  the  mind  upon  some 
other  principle  than  that  upon  which  the  understanding 
builds  its  ordinary  conclusions,  and  that  principle  is  a  firm 
reliance  upon  the  word  of  God.  "  We  judge  him  faithful 
who  hath  promised." 

Faith  in  Christ,  or  justifying  faith,  relates  to  that  part 
of  the  divine  word  more  especially  which  testifies  con- 
cerning  the  person  and  the  work  of  Christ.  It  takes  into 
its  view  everything  contained  in  the  word  of  God,  but  its 
special  object  is  the  Lord  Jesus,  as  the  Son  of  God,  and  the 
Saviour  of  the  world ;  and  in  addition  to  a  full  persuasion 
of  the  truth  of  the  glorious  gospel  concerning  him,  includes 
a  cordial  acquiescence  in  the  revealed  method  of  salvation— 
an  appropriation  to  our  own  case  of  the  suitableness  and 
sufficiency  of  redemption— an  affiance  on  the  mercy  and 
merits  of  the  Saviour.  It  is  therefore  described  by  com- 
ing to  Christ  for  pardon  and  grace,  for  holiness  and  hfe  ; 
by  receiving  him  as  our  prophet,  priest,  and  king.  It  is 
represented  by  the  significant  action  of  looking  to  him 


II 


200 


FAITH   IN    AFFLICTION. 


lifted  up  on  the  cross  ;  as  the  wounded  Israelites  looked  on 
the  brazen  serpent  lifted  up  in  the  wilderness,  with  an  eye  of 
penitence  and  hope.     It  is  also  represented  by  an  apostle  as 
synonymous  with  the  act  of  committing  the  soul  into  the  hands 
of  Christ :  "  I  know  in  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  per- 
suaded that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed 
to  him."     This  operation  of  faith  admits  of  an  easy  illus- 
tration.    If  a  man  believe  that  a  certain  course  of  conduct 
will  make  him  rich,  this  faith  will  influence  his  conduct, 
and  induce  active  and  persevering  effort  in  that  course ; 
he  will  not  forsake,  but  pursue  it  with  steady  and  constant 
application.     Or,  if  a  diseased  man  believes  that  attention 
to  a  certain  regimen,  or  prescription,  will  prove  effectual 
to  the  restoration  of  his  health,  though  its  application  may 
be  painful,  yet  faith  renders  him  willing  to  adopt  it,  and 
causes  him  to  attend  to  it  with  regularity  and  perseverance. 
So  it  is  here :  there  is  no  mystery  in  the  subject.     Is  a 
man  convinced  of  his  ruined  state  by  reason  of  sin  and 
transgression  ?     Is  he  anxious  for  salvation,  yet  conscious 
that  it  is  beyond  the  reach  of  human  efforts  ?     While  in 
this  state  of  mind,  is  he  convinced  that  it  "is  a  faithful  say- 
ing, and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners  ?"     Does  he  feel  that  the 
salvation  he  has  procured  is  exactly  suited  to  his  condition, 
and  is  he  fully  persuaded  that  the  enjoyment  of  it  is  infallibly 
secured  to  every  one  that  believeth  ?     What  then  is  the 
result  ?     His  heart  welcomes  the  Saviour,  and  cordially 
acquiesces  in  this  scheme  of  mercy.     He  embraces  it- 
pleads  it— relies  upon  it— and  intrusts  his  all  for  eternity 
to  the  care  of  his  Redeemer.     Let  it  not  be  imagined  that 
the  view  now  given  of  saving  faith  would  insinuate  that 
God  is  not  its   giver.     He  is  strictly  its    author.     The 
faith  through  which  we  are  saved  "  is  not  of  ourselves,  it 
is  the  gift  of  God."     Those  who  believed  in  Achaia,  are 
expressly  said  to  have  "  believed  through  grace."    Faith  is 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


201 


of  the  operation  of  God,  inasmuch  as  he  enlightens  the 
mind,  and  enables  it  to  form  a  correct  judgment  respecting 
gospel  truths  ;  and  also  disposes  the  heart  to  acquiesce  in 
the  appointed  method  of  salvation ;  thus  leading  the  peni- 
tent to  place  his  reliance  on  the  Lamb  that  was  slain  as 
the  exclusive  basis  of  hope.  Still  the  act  of  believing  is 
our  own,  and  may  be  suspended,  or  perpetuated,  just  as 
we  improve,  or  misimprove,  the  grace  which  God  imparts 
to  every  one  to  profit  withal.  Hence  the  propriety  of  the 
many  arguments,  entreaties,  and  exhortations  to  faith,  con- 
tained in  the  sacred  volume,  which,  if  men  were  entirely 
passive  in  its  exercise,  would  be  as  irrational  as  they 
would  be  unnecessary. 

The  importance  of  faith,  viewed  especially  in  connection 
with  a  state  of  affliction,  will  be  rendered  apparent  by  the 
following  considerations. 

Faith  connects  us  with  the  atonement  of  Christ,  and 
secures  to  us  the  forgiveness  of  sin,  and  an  adoption  into 
the  family  of  God.  That  atonement  was  provided,  inde- 
pendently of  us,  by  the  love  and  patience  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ;  and  its  general  efficacy  consists  in  this,  that  it 
opens  a  way  for  the  salvation  of  guilty  man.  It  hath  removed 
every  obstruction  to  the  free  and  full  exercise  of  mercy ; 
so  that  God  can  now  be  just,  and  yet  the  justifier  of  him 
that  believeth  in  Jesus.  Glorious,  however,  as  is  this 
arrangement,  men  are  not  necessarily  put  into  the  actual 
possession  of  the  benefits  of  reconciliation ;  they  are  yet 
dead  in  trespasses  and  sins  ;  aliens,  strangers,  living  with- 
out God  and  without  hope,  and  in  a  state  of  condemnation ; 
the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  them.  What  then  is  it  which 
immediately  connects  man  with  the  merits  of  the  atone- 
ment? God  is  revealed  to  us  as  gracious  and  merciful, 
pardoning  iniquity,  transgression,  and  sin  ;  Christ,  we  are 
assured,  came  on  purpose  to  save  sinners ;  he  has  done 
everything  necessary  for  their  salvation  ;  he  is  s£ble  to  save 


202 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


to  the  Uttermost ;  his  heart  is  fixed  upon  the  salvation  of 
sinners  ;  this  was  "  the  joy  that  was  set  before  him,"  and 
for  which  he  "  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame  :" 
yet  the  sins  of  individual  man  are  not  by  this  forgiven;  he 
'     is  still  under  condemnation,  and  within  the  flood-marks 
:     of  divine  vengeance.      Where,   then,    is  the  connecting 
J     link  ?     What  is  it  that  transfers  to  him,  so  to  speak,  the 
.     merits  of  the  Saviour's  death  ?     It  is  faith.     When  pierced 
by  a  deep  conviction  of  sin,  he  makes  a  full  and  humbling 
acknowledgment  of  his  guilt  and  helplessness,  and  in  the 
exercise  of  fervent  prayer  supplicates  mercy,  and  casts  him- 
self with  all  his  load  of  guilt  upon  the  atonement  of  Christ ; 
then  it  is  that  this  act  of  personal  trust  connects  him  with 
the  great  and  availing  sacrifice.     Thus  when  the  jailer  at 
Philippi  asked,    with  fear   and  trembling,   the   question, 
"What  shall  I  do  to  be  saved?"    Paul  replied,  "Believe 
on   the   Lord  Jesus   Christ,  and    thou   shalt   bo    saved." 
When  our  Lord  sent  out  his  disciples,  he  said  unto  them, 
"  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature :  he  that  believeth,  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved, 
b«t  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned."     It  is  also 
said  in  another  place,  "  He  that  believeth  on  him  is  not 
condemned ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  is  condemned  al- 
ready, because  he  hath  not  believed  on  the  name  of  the 
only-begotten  Son  of  God."     "  He  that  believeth  on  the 
Son  hath  everlasting  life ;  he  that  believeth  not  the  Son 
shall  not  see  life ;  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  him." 
See,  then,  the  importance — the  tremendous  importance— of 
faith  in  Christ.     It  is  the  hinge  on  which  salvation  turns ; 
N     it  is  that  without  which  all  knowledge,  and  all  impressions, 
»     and  all  convictions,  and  all  duties,  will  leave  us  short  of 
\     salvation.     So  soon,  however,  as  in  the  exercise  o(  a  per- 
i    sonal  and  exclusive  dependence  upon  the  atonement  of 
;     Christ,  we  look  up  to  him  alone  for  salvation,  then  the 
full  efficacy  of  that  sacrifice  extends  to  us ;  then  it  is  that 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


203 


man  is  reconciled  to  God,  and  is  at  peace  with  him  ;  then 
he  is  put  into  the  family  of  God,  and  acknowledged  as  a 
son  ;  and  if  a  son,  then  an  heir— an  heir  of  God,  and  joint 
heir  with  Jesus  Christ.     Are  you  saying.  Would  that  my 
sins  were  thus  remitted  ?     Would  that  I  were  thus  justi- 
fied  freely  from  all  things  ?     What  must  I  do  to  make  this 
blessing  my  own  ;  to  secure  to  myself  a  name  and  a  place 
amoncT  the  children  of  God!     The  only  proper  and  Scrip- 
tural answer  to  this  inquiry  is,  "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved."     Nothing  but  faith  can 
relieve  you  from  your  distress,  or  take  away  the  burden 
of  guilt  from  your  conscience.      Faith  in  Christ  is  that 
single  condition,  qualification,  or  requisite,  on  which  the 
Scriptures  insist  as  essential  to  our  justification .     If,  there- 
fore, with  the  heart  you  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
you  shall  be  freely  justified  from  all  things.     This  is  a  re- 
suit  which  neither  the  mountain  of  your  guilt,  nor  the  natural 
enmity  of  your  mind,  nor  the  curse  of  the  law,  northe  claims 
of  justice,  shall  prevent.     For  through  the  mediation  of 
Jesus  the  law  has  been  magnified  and  made  honorable ; 
the  claims  of  justice  have  been  met  and  satisfied  ;   the 
flaming  sword  has  been  removed;  and,  by  the  sprinklmg 
of  his  blood,  the  throne  of  God,  once  so  terrible,  has  been 
constituted  a  throne  of  grace.     Then,  being  justified  freely 
by  God's  grace,  and  adopted  as  a   child,  the  immediate 
effects  will  be  peace  of  conscience,  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost, 
power  over  sin,  and  a  Uvely  hope  of  immortal  glory  ;  while 
the  remoter  effects  will  be,  purity  of  heart,  ability  to  do  and 
suff-er  the  whole  will  of  God,  victory  over  death,  and  an 
abundant  entrance  into  the  everiasting  kingdom  of  our  Lord 
and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.     Considered  in  this  point  of 
view,  who  can  estimate  the  value  of  faith,  especially  m 
a  sea'son  of  affliction  ?     Without  this,  where  shall  man  ob- 
tain comfort,  or  whence  shall  he  derive 

"  His  strength  to  .uffer,  and  hU  wiU  to  serve  t" 


204 


PAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


It  is  the  assurance  that  his  sins  are  forgiven  him  that 
enables  him  to  dismiss  fear  and  disquietude  from  his  mind. 
It  is  the  inward  conviction  that  he  belongs  to  Jesus,  and 
is  interested  in  everything  he  has  done  for  sinners,  and 
promised  to  them,  which  is  the  anchor  of  his  soul,  sure  and 
steadfast,  by  which  he  is  preserved  in  safety  amid  the  fury 
of  the  storm.  Though  outwardly  tossed  and  agitated,  he 
has  inwardly  no  fear,  for  he  knows  the  strength  and  faith- 
fulness of  Him  in  whom  he  trusts,  and  is  persuaded  that 
he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  he  has  committed  to  him. 
Thus  his  mind  is  kept  in  perfect  peace,  because  it  is  stayed 
upon  God.  When  he  is  in  heaviness,  he  thinks  upon  God. 
He  thinks  of  his  love  in  having  died  for  his  sins,  and  of  his 
grace  in  the  forgiveness  of  his  transgressions.  He  thinks 
of  his  past  dealings  with  him.  He  thinks  of  his  power 
and  faithfulness,  of  his  word  and  promises  ;  and  these 
thoughts  allay  his  fears,  and  diffuse  a  tranquil  serenity  in 
his  heart  while  he  exclaims, — 

"  Though  waves  and  storms  go  o'er  my  head, 

Though  strength,  and  health,  and  friends  be  gone, 

Though  joys  be  withered  all  and  dead, 
Though  every  comfort  be  withdrawn ; 

On  this  my  steadfast  soul  relies, 

Father,  thy  mercy  never  dies." 

It  is  hy  faith  we  are  united  to  Christ,  and  are  made  par- 
takers  of  his  fullness.  In  him  are  all  our  springs  hid.  He 
is  the  sole  depository  of  all  spiritual  blessings.  "  For  it 
pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  should  all  fullness  dwell." 
The  communications  of  this  fullness  are,  however,  limited 
to  those  who  are  united  to  Christ,  and  enjoy  oneness  with 
him.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  our  Lord  insisted  upon  the 
necessity  of  union  with  himself.  "  Abide  in  me,  and  I  in 
you.  As  the  branch  cannot  bear  fruit  of  itself,  imless  it 
abide  in  the  vine,  no  more  can  ye,  except  ye  abide  in  me. 
For  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing."     This  union  is  not 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


205 


merely  visible  and  professional,  but  real  and  vital,  intimate 
and  entire :  it  makes  us  one  with  Christ.     Such  a  union 
is  not  the  enthusiastic  dream  of  the  visionary,  which  the 
scoffer  may  ridicule  for  its  folly,  and  the  judicious  abhor 
for  its  presumption  ;  but  a  blessed  and  glorious  reality,  of 
which  every  Christian  has  the  most  delightful  conscious- 
ness.    "  Hereby  know  we  that  we  dwell  in  him,  and  he 
in  us,  because  he  hath  given  us  of  his  Spirit."     This  union 
is  illustrated  in  Scripture  by  a  variety  of  similitudes  ;  such 
as  the  connection  between  the  root  and  the  branches,  be- 
tween the  members  of  the  human  body  and  the  head,*  and 
by  the  most  tender  and  endearing  of  all  relative  connections. 
None  of  these,  indeed,  can  convey  a  full  idea  of  its  nature 
and  influence  ;  but  though  they  fall  short  of  the  glory  they 
are  employed  to  illustrate,  they  serve  to  aid  our  conceptions. 
This  union  is  not  limited  to  saints  of  the  highest  order,  but 
is  experienced  by  all— the  meanest  and  most  obscure. 
The  green  leaf  on  the  remotest  twig  proves  its  connection 
with  the  root,  as  well  as  the  fruit  which  loads  the  highest 
branches.     From  this  union  all  Christians  derive  the  whole 
of  their  spiritual  life,  and  strength,  and  sufficiency ;  and  it 
is  only  by  faith  in  him  that  this  relation  can  be  formed— 
•—that  this  union  can  be  maintained.     To  explain  this  :  it 
is  well  known  that  the  vine  conveys  a  prolific  sap  to  the 
branches  ;  but  it  is  exclusively  to  its  own  branches.     It 
matters  not  how  near  a  branch  may  be  brought  to  the  stem, 
it  may  lean  against  it,  it  may  be  bound  to  it,  or  even  nailed,' 
but  it  cannot  flourish  or  live  unless  it  be  in  the  stem ;  but 
when  it  is  in  the  tree,  the  very  sap  which  flows  through 
the  one  pervades  the  other  also.     The  branch  thus  lives 
by  virtue  of  its  union  with  the  trunk,  and  by  reason  of  that 
only.     If  this  union  be  broken  off,  the  branch  withers  and 
dies;  its  life  is  gone.     Such  is  the  union  of  Christians 
with  the  Saviour.     He  is  the  head,  they  are  the  branches  ; 
and  this  union  is  accomplished  by  faith  only.     He  dwells 


206 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


207 


in  our  hearts  by  faith.  "  The  life  which  I  now  live  in  the 
flesh,"  says  an  apostle,  "  I  live  by  faith  in  the  Son  of 
God."  What  an  importance  does  this  give  to  faith !  for 
how  true  will  it  be  found,  upon  an  examination  of  the  facts 
of  the  case,  that  "  without  him  we  can  do  nothing !"  What 
is  the  true  condition  of  human  nature,  but  one  of  moral 
helplessness,  and  destitution  of  all  good  ?  "  In  me,"  says 
the  apostle,  "  that  is,  in  my  flesh,  dwelleth  no  good  thing." 
In  himself,  man  is  utterly  unable  to  think,  or  to  do,  such 
things  as  be  rightful.  He  possesses  no  wisdom,  no  grace, 
no  goodness  ;  he  is  empty  and  destitute,  and  stands  in  need 
of  continual  support  by  "  the  supply  of  the  Spirit  of  Jesus 
Christ."  So  subtil  and  powerful  are  his  spiritual  adver- 
saries, so  ensnaring  is  the  world,  so  corrupt  and  treacherous 
is  his  own  heart,  that  to  endure,  for  a  single  moment,  under 
his  own  guidance,  or  in  his  own  strength,  would  be  a 
thing  impossible  ;  and  he  who  feels  this,  who  feels  that,  in 
point  of  fact,  there  is  no  course  of  holy  thinking  and 
acting  for  which  he  is  suflicient  of  himself,  that  of  himself 
he  cannot  even  pray  aright,  and  that  he  is  utterly  incapable 
of  anything  which  is  substantially  good  without  the  special 
aid  of  Christ,  will  feel  proportionably  the  importance  of 
this  great  principle  of  faith.  He  who  believes  in  Christ 
becomes  united  to  him,  and  receives  into  his  heart  the 
Spirit  of  Christ,  as  a  principle  of  new  and  spiritual  life ; 
and  thus  derives  from  him  vigor,  and  strength,  and  fruitful- 
ness.  Hence  he  has  in  him  a  secret  supply  of  spiritual 
life,  drawn  from  a  hidden  source,  which  cannot  be  inter- 
cepted or  exhausted.  He  has  resources  fully  adequate  to 
all  the  claims  of  his  high  calling.  The  weakness  of  man 
becomes  connected  with  the  infinite  fullness  of  Christ — a 
fullness  of  wisdom,  and  grace,  and  strength,  and  holiness. 
He  is  now  ready  for  all  the  duties  and  trials  to  which  he 
may  be  called ;  there  is  nothing,  however  high,  or  difficult, 
or  impossible  to  man,  considered  as  man,  and  as  such  left 


to  himself,  but  what  is  possible  to  him  that  believeth.  "  I 
can  do  all  things,"  said  the  apostle,  "  through  Christ  who 
strengtheneth  me."  In  Christ  he  has  resources  equal  to 
all  the  claims  of  his  high  calling,  and  therefore  may  dismiss 
from  his  heart  every  fear,  knowing  that  as  his  day  is,  so 
shall  his  strength  be  proportioned.  Here  is  the  true  reason 
why  the  Christian  rises  buoyant  above  the  waves  of  trouble 
where  others  are  overwhelmed,  and  where  he  himself  is 
expected  to  sink.  He  is  one  with  Christ,  and  the  strength 
of  Christ  is  made  perfect  in  his  weakness. 

Faith  fixes  its  eye  on  invisible  and  eternal  realities^  and^ 
by  keeping  the  soul  continually  under  their  influence,  presents 
a  counteracting  influence  to  every  temptation.  Faith,  being 
"  the  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things 
not  seen,"  gives  them,  as  it  were,  an  actual  subsistence,  it 
keeps  them  present  to  the  mind,  and  preserves  it  under 
their  influence.  Hence  it  is  described  in  the  word  of  God 
as  producing  eflfects  similar  to  those  which  would  be  pro- 
duced by  sight.  What  sight  is  with  respect  to  this  world, 
that  faith  is  to  the  next.  "  Noah,  being  warned  of  God, 
of  things  not  seen  as  yet,"  believed  the  divine  testimony, 
and  faith  led  him  to  adopt  precisely  that  course  of  conduct 
which  would  have  been  induced  by  a  view  of  the  approach- 
ing deluge ;  "  he  was  moved  with  fear,  and  prepared  an 
ark  to  the  saving  of  his  house."  In  the  case  of  Moses, 
what  could  sight  have  done,  which  faith  did  not  efl^ect  ? 
Could  he  have  sufl'ered  with  more  resolution  ?  Could  he 
have  chosen  God  as  his  portion  with  more  decision  ?  Could 
he  have  sought  "the  recompense  of  reward"  with  more 
patient  perseverance  ?  He  sufl^ered,  he  acted,  he  endured, 
"as  seeing  Him  who  is  invisible,"  and  as  seeing  the 
things  that  are  unseen.  The  same  remark  is  applicable 
to  the  host  of  worthies  recorded  in  the  eleventh  chapter 
of  Hebrews,  who,  amid  trials  of  the  most  terrific  cha- 
racter. 


f 


"SitJwK*  ..-*'t-»S-^i< 


208 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 

"  Nobly  for  their  Master  stood, 
Dying  champions  for  their  God. 


Could  they  who  met  death  in  a  hundred  forms,  or  wan- 
dered in  the  dens  of  wild  beasts,  have  endured  with  greater 
constancy  or  fortitude,  if  the  world  they  sought  had  been 
continually  before  their  eyes  ?     In  accordance  with  this 
view  of  the  effects  of  faith,  the  Christian  is  described  as 
walking  by  faith.     "  We  walk  by  faith,  not  by  sight."    That 
is,  he  pursues  his  journey  through  life  influenced  solely  in 
his  choice,  and  heart,  and  conduct,  by  those  solemn  objects 
which  are  as  yet  unseen,  and  in  comparison  of  which  all 
that  men  call  great  and  important  sinks  into  utter  insig- 
nificance ;— those  very  objects  which  gave  such  a  high 
moral  elevation  to  the  character  of  those  primitive  sufferers 
who  "  resisted  unto  blood,  striving  against  sin."     Mark, 
then,  its  operation  in  time  of  affliction.     Faith  places  be- 
fore the  eye  of  the  believer  the  transitory  nature  of  all 
earthly  things,  their  comparative  insignificance  and  worth- 
lessness.     It  develops  to  his  view  the  solemn   realities 
of  a  future  and   eternal  state  ;    the  wages  of  sin  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  recompense  of  righteousness  on  the 
other. 

It  shows  him  the  blessed  consequences  resulting  from  a 
patient  perseverance  in  well  doing,  and  an  unreserved  sub- 
mission to  all  the  will  of  God.  It  unveils  to  his  contempla- 
tion "  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory." 
He  sees  the  gates  of  the  celestial  city  thrown  open  ;— he 
beholds  the  beloved  of  God  enter  his  immediate  presence  ; 
—a  perfect  freedom  from  all  sin  ;— every  painful  sensation 
removed— a  fullness  of  joy  perpetuated  throughout  eternity: 
and  this,  beheld  under  the  influence  of  an  appropriating 
faith,  induces  a  cheerful  submission  to  present  trials ;  for 
the  believer  argues,  "I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this 
present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 


FAITH  IN   AFFLICTION. 


209 


\ 


which  shall  be  revealed  in  us  :"  hence  he  is  sometimes 
heard  singing  in  trouble, 

"  Let  cares  like  a  wild  deluge  come, 
Let  storms  of  sorrow  fall ; 
May  I  but  safely  reach  my  home, 
My  God,  my  heaven,  my  all." 

But  faith  does  more  than  this  ;  it  not  only  reveals  the 
end  of  pious  suffering,  but  the  design  of  it ;  it  places  before 
the  view  the  love  in  which  it  originates  ;  it  shows  not  only 
that  all  is  most  wisely  ordered,  but  that  all  is  the  result  of 
the  great  loving-kindness,  the  special  condescension  of 
God  to  man ;  it  makes  known  the  great  purposes  of  dis- 
cipline it  is  intended  to  accomplish,  and  the  abundant 
consolations  which  are  provided  for  the  pious  sufferer. 
Thus  the  believer  cannot  complain  when  afflictions  come. 
He  sees  himself  in  the  hands  of  his  heavenly  Father ;  he 
sees  all  things  working  together  for  his  good  ;  he  sees  the 
fountain  of  strength  and  comfort  continually  open  before 
him,  where  he  may  come,  and  come  at  all  times,  and  re- 
fresh his  fainting  soul ;  he  sees  a  day  approaching  when 
all  that  is  now  perplexing  and  mysterious  in  the  ways  of 
Providence  will  be  explained  to  his  entire  satisfaction  and 
joy;  he  sees  an  eternal  weight  of  glory  following  his 
transitory  sufferings  in  this  life  :  here  his  mind  fixes  and 
feels  peace  ;  he  becomes  satisfied  and  serene  ;  he  not  only 
submits,  but  rejoices  ;  his  mind  is  freed  from  anxiety;  he  is 
"  careful  for  nothing,  but  in  everything,  by  prayer  and  sup- 
plication, with  thanksgiving,  he  makes  his  requests  known 
unto  God  ;  and  the  peace  of  God,  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, keeps  his  heart  and  mind  through  Christ  Jesus." 

Faith  brings  into  exercise  all  other  Christian  graces. 
Faith  has  often  been  represented  as  the  root  from  which 
all  other  graces  spring  ;  and  hope  and  love,  gratitude  and 
submission,  are  but  so  many  branches  of  that  tree  of  which 
faith  is  the  root  and  stem.     When  the  apostle  said,  "  Now 


»! 


210 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


abideth  faith,  hope,  charity,"  he  designed  to  teach  us,  not 
only  the  intimate  connection  subsisting  between  these 
graces,  but  also  their  divine  order  ;  and  a  reference  to  them 
will  serve  for  an  illustration  of  every  other.  Without  faith, 
for  example,  there  can  be  no  hope.  We  cannot  hope  for 
any  desirable  good  before  the  report  of  that  good  is  made 
known  to  us ;  and  in  proportion  to  the  credence  we  give 
-to  that  report,  and  the  reliance  we  place  upon  it,  will  be 
the  degree  of  our  hope.  We  can  no  more  have  a  lively 
hope  without  a  strong  and  vigorous  faith,  than  we  can  en- 
joy the  beauties  of  nature  without  the  organ  of  vision. 
Let  faith,  then,  fix  its  eye  upon  the  blessings  of  the  gospel 
as  supremely  important,  inexpressibly  desirable,  and  im- 
mutably certain  ;  let  it  fix  on  those  great  and  blessed 
prospects  which  the  mercy  of  God  sets  before  us  in  con- 
nection with  a  future  world,  and  hope  will  instantly  plume 
its  wings,  and  stretch  its  flight  toward  the  skies  ;  and  as 
the  soul  thus  rises  in  the  pursuit  of  celestial  joys,  it  soars 
above  the  pressure  of  affliction,  and  all  those  influences  by 
which  it  is  agitated  and  distressed.  Is  he  likely  to  be 
overwhelmed  by  despondency,  whose  eye  is  gazing  on  the 
glories  of  paradise,  and  while  the  first-fruits  of  celestial 
glory  are  actually  plucked  by  his  hands  ?  Is  he  likely  to 
yield  to  murmuring  and  complaint,  or  be  carried  away  by 
discontent,  whose  hope  is  anticipating,  with  all  the  intensity 
of  spiritual  desires,  the  joys  of  eternity,  and  who  is  actually 
in  possession  of  the  peace  which  passeth  all  understand- 
ing— the  pledge  of  immortality  ? 

The  remarks  which  have  been  made  in  reference  to 
hope  are  equally  applicable  to  love.  We  cannot  love  God 
until  we  know  that  he  loveth  us  ;  and  how  can  this  be 
known,  but  by  believing  the  revelation  he  hath  made  of 
himself,  and  of  his  purposes  of  mercy  in  Christ  Jesus  ? 
When,  in  the  exercise  of  faith,  we  fully  embrace  the  re- 
presentations which  God  has  given  in  his  word  of  the 


211 


exceeding  riches  of  his  grace,  and  of  the  suitableness, 
excellency,  and  glory  of  Christ  as  a  Saviour,  an  aflfection 
pure  and  fervent  is  enkindled  in  the  heart,  which  at  once 
enlightens  and  transforms,  and  secures  a  full  and  complete 
victory  over  the  world,  the  flesh,  and  the  devil.  The  be- 
liever then  becomes  actuated  by  a  new  principle.  The 
love  of  Christ  constraineth  him  henceforth  to  live,  not  unto 
himself,  but  unto  Him  which  died  for  him  and  rose  again. 
It  now  becomes  his  earnest  and  increasing  desire  that 
Christ  may  be  magnified  in  his  body,  whether  it  be  by  life 
or  death.  He  is  in  consequence  enabled  to  sustain  with 
fortitude  the  heaviest  trials,  and  even  to  joy  in  tribulation, 
because  he  is  persuaded  that  the  power  of  Christ  shall  be 
made  perfect  in  his  weakness,  and  that  his  faith,  when 
tried,  "  shall  be  found  unto  praise,  and  honor,  and  glory, 
at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ."  He  looks  upon  all  the 
dispensations  of  God  as  an  afl'ectionate  child  looks  upon 
the  procedure  of  a  father  whom  he  loves,  and  on  whose 
wisdom,  and  attachment,  and  care,  he  is  accustomed  to 
place  implicit  reliance.  His  affections  being  supremely 
placed  on  God,  he  is  freed  from  the  entanglement  of  earthly 
things,  for  he  no  longer  sees  anything  amiable  or  excel- 
lent but  in  him,  or  what  bears  a  relation  to  him ;  his  un- 
ceasing aim  is  to  do  his  will,  to  show  forth  his  praise,  and 
to  promote  his  glory.  Is  he  brought  into  affliction  ?  he  is 
solicitous  to  avoid  everything  in  temper  and  carriage  that 
might  be  oflTensive  to  God.     Believing  that  he  is 

"  Good  when  he  giveg,  sapremely  good ; 
Not  less  when  he  denies ; 
That  crosses  from  his  sovereign  hand 
Are  blessings  in  disguise ;" 

he  endeavors  to  glorify  him  in  the  fires.  Observe  him  at 
such  a  time,  when  thus  actuated  by  faith,  and  hope,  and 
love.  Do  the  lovely  olive  plants  which  grow  up  around 
his  table  unexpectedly  wither  and  die  ;  how  does  he  feel  ? 


i 


212 


FAITH   IN   AFFLICTION. 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


He  approaches  the  coffin,  lifts  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and 
exclaims,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away ; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."     Does  he  take  a  jour- 
ney, and  does  he  hear  at  a  distance  that  death  has  entered 
his  dwelling,  that  a   beloved  relative  is  no  more;   how 
does  he  receive  the  mournful  intelligence  ?     "  The  Lord 
liveth,  and  blessed  be  my  rock,  and  let  the  God  of  my 
salvation  be  exalted."     Does  he  meet  with  extraordinary 
changes  and  difficulties  ?      Is  he  sometimes  like  the  poor 
shipwrecked  mariner,  deprived  of  all  but  his  existence  ; 
how  does  he  act  ?     He  sits  upon  the  rock,  and  exclaims, 
"  Righteous  art  thou,  O  Lord ;  verily  thou  art  a  God  that 
hidest  thyself.     I  am  as  one  cast  out  of  thy  sight :  yet  will 
I  look  toward  thy  temple,  for  thou  savest  them  that  put 
their  trust  in  thee."     Is  he  apprised  of  some  approaching 
calamity  ;  how  does  he  view  it  ?     With  Luther,  he  says, 
"  Come,  let  us  sing  the  forty-sixth  psalm,  *  God  is  our 
refuge    and    strength,    a   very  present   help    in    trouble. 
Therefore  will  we  not  fear  though  the  earth  be  removed, 
and  though  the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the 
sea.     The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  ;  the  God  of  Jacob  is 
our  refuge.* " 

Such  is  the  important  office  which  faith  sustains,  and 
such  are  the  immense  advantages  we  derive  from  it,  espe- 
cially in  the  time  of  affliction.  It  is  that  which  brings  man, 
through  the  Saviour's  satisfaction,  to  the  footstool  of  God, 
for  reconciliation  and  adoption.  It  is  that  which  unites 
him  to  Christ,  and  brings  with  it  the  mighty  influence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  which  works  in  him  a  death  unto  sin,  and 
a  new  life  unto  righteousness.  It  is  that  which  frees  him 
from  doubt,  and  fear,  and  anxiety;  which  is  the  source  of 
his  spiritual  victories,  and  which  gives  strength  to  do  and 
to  suffer  the  will  of  God.  It  is  that  which  enables  him 
to  resist  the  temptations  arising  from  adversity  and  dis- 
tress ;  which  extracts  the  sting  of  death,  dissipates  the 


213 


darkness  of  the  grave,  and  inspires  the  heart,  when  suffer- 
ing from  the  pressure  of  affliction,  and  even  when  endur- 
ing the  agonies  of  death,  with  "  a  joy  unspeakable,  and  full 
of  glory."  Need  we  wonder  that  the  faith  which  produces 
such  effects,  and  with  which  the  most  valuable  blessings 
are  connected,  is  described  as  "precious  faith?"  and  have 
we  not  reason  frequently  to  unite  in  the  prayer  of  the 
apostles,  "  Lord,  increase  our  faith  ?" 

Reader,  is  this  faith  yours  ?     Is  it  that  which  the  Scrip- 
tures describe  as  genuine  and  saving  ?     Is  it  "  the  sub- 
stance  of  things  hoped  for,  the   evidence  of  things  not 
seen  ?"     Does  it  lead  you  to  trust  in  Christ— to  love  him, 
to  obey  him  ?     While  the  things  which  are  seen  would 
engage  your  heart,  does  it  lead  you  to  look  above  them, 
to  set   your  affections  on  heavenly  blessings?     Does  it 
govern  your  heart,  direct  your  choice,  regulate  your  con- 
duct, and  inspire  you  with  fervent  love,  steadfast  hope,  and 
patient  submission  ?    If  it  be  genuine  and  saving,  these  will 
be  its  effects.     Remember,  that  without  this  faith  you  can 
possess  no  security— no  peace.     Till  the  mind  is  brought 
to  repose  on  God  by  a  true  and  steadfast  reliance,  it  has 
no  resting  place.     It  is  faith  in  him  that  gives  it  solidity. 
Out  of  him,  as  the  sanctuary  of  the  soul,  every  storm  an- 
noys, every  trifle  disquiets,  every  danger  alarms,  and  "man 
at  his  best  estate  is  altogether  vanity."     When  affliction 
comes,  murmuring,  rebellion,  and  all  the  other  evils  of  an 
earthly  mind  are  excited.     The  trials  which  were  design- 
ed to  correct  evil,  become  the  occasion  of  stirring  up  other 
and  greater ;  and  those  affections  which  are  designed  for 
life  issue  in  death.     There  is  only  one  anchor  of  the  soul 
sure    and    steadfast:    it   is    a    Scriptural    faith    in   God. 
Everything  else,  instead  of  settling,  will  only  discompose 
the  mind.     This  will  prepare  a  man  for  all  the  vicissitudes 
of  time  ;  this  will  help  him  to  go  on  his  way  rejoicing  in  . 
tribulation  ;  and  this  will  enable  him  to  look  the  king  of 


is 


1riir-ir^F'"'^i-iiiint.._i_ 


212 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


He  approaches  the  coffin,  lifts  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  and 
exclaims,  "  The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away; 
blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord."     Does  he  take  a  jour- 
ney, and  does  he  hear  at  a  distance  that  death  has  entered 
his  dwelling,  that  a  beloved  relative  is  no  more ;   how 
does  he  receive  the  mournful  intelligence  ?     "  The  Lord 
liveth,  and  blessed  be  my  rock,  and  let  the  God  of  my 
salvation  be  exalted."     Does  he  meet  with  extraordinary 
changes  and  difficulties  ?     Is  he  sometimes  like  the  poor 
shipwrecked  mariner,  deprived  of  all  but  his  existence  ; 
how  does  he  act  ?     He  sits  upon  the  rock,  and  exclaims, 
''  Righteous  art  thou,  O  Lord ;  verily  thou  art  a  God  that 
hidest  thyself.     I  am  as  one  cast  out  of  thy  sight :  yet  will 
I  look  toward  thy  temple,  for  thou  savest  them  that  put 
their  trust  in  thee."     Is  he  apprised  of  some  approaching 
calamity  ;  how  does  he  view  it  ?     With  Luther,  he  says, 
"  Come,  let  us  sing  the  forty-sixth  psalm,  '  God  is  our 
refuge    and    strength,    a   very  present   help    in    trouble. 
Therefore  will  we  not  fear  though  the  earth  be  removed, 
and  though  the  mountains  be  carried  into  the  midst  of  the 
sea.     The  Lord  of  hosts  is  with  us  ;  the  God  of  Jacob  is 
our  refuge.' " 

Such  is  the  important  office  which  faith  sustains,  and 
such  are  the  immense  advantages  we  derive  from  it,  espe- 
cially in  the  time  of  affliction.  It  is  that  which  brings  man, 
through  the  Saviour's  satisfaction,  to  the  footstool  of  God, 
for  reconciliation  and  adoption.  It  is  that  which  unites 
him  to  Christ,  and  brings  with  it  the  mighty  influence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit,  which  works  in  him  a  death  unto  sin,  and 
a  new  life  unto  righteousness.  It  is  that  which  frees  him 
from  doubt,  and  fear,  and  anxiety;  which  is  the  source  of 
his  spiritual  victories,  and  which  gives  strength  to  do  and 
to  suffer  the  will  of  God.  It  is  that  which  enables  him 
to  resist  the  temptations  arising  from  adversity  and  dis- 
tress ;  which  extracts  the  sting  of  death,  dissipates  the 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


213 


\ 


darkness  of  the  grave,  and  inspires  the  heart,  when  suffer- 
ing from  the  pressure  of  affliction,  and  even  when  endur- 
ing the  agonies  of  death,  with  "  a  joy  unspeakable,  and  full 
of  glory."  Need  we  wonder  that  the  faith  which  produces 
such  effects,  and  with  which  the  most  valuable  blessings 
are  connected,  is  described  as  "precious  faith?"  and  have 
we  not  reason  frequently  to  unite  in  the  prayer  of  the 
apostles,  "  Lord,  increase  our  faith  ?" 

Reader,  is  this  faith  yours  ?     Is  it  that  which  the  Scrip- 
tures describe  as  genuine  and  saving  ?     Is  it  "  the  sub- 
stance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not 
seen  ?"     Does  it  lead  you  to  trust  in  Christ— to  love  him, 
to  obey  him  ?     While  the  things  which  are  seen  would 
engage  your  heart,  does  it  lead  you  to  look  above  them, 
to  set  your  affections  on  heavenly  blessings?     Does  it 
govern  your  heart,  direct  your  choice,  regulate  your  con- 
duct, and  inspire  you  with  fervent  love,  steadfast  hope,  and 
patient  submission  ?    If  it  be  genuine  and  saving,  these  will 
be  its  effects.     Remember,  that  without  this  faith  you  can 
possess  no  security— no  peace.     Till  the  mind  is  brought 
to  repose  on  God  by  a  true  and  steadfast  reliance,  it  has 
no  resting  place.     It  is  faith  in  him  that  gives  it  solidity. 
Out  of  him,  as  the  sanctuary  of  the  soul,  every  storm  an- 
noys, every  trifle  disquiets,  every  danger  alarms,  and  "man 
at  his  best  estate  is  altogether  vanity."     When  affliction 
comes,  murmuring,  rebellion,  and  all  the  other  evils  of  an 
earthly  mind  are  excited.     The  trials  which  were  design- 
ed to  correct  evil,  become  the  occasion  of  stirring  up  other 
and  greater ;  and  those  affections  which  are  designed  for 
life  issue  in  death.     There  is  only  one  anchor  of  the  soul 
sure    and    steadfast:    it   is    a    Scriptural    faith    in   God. 
Everything  else,  instead  of  settling,  will  only  discompose 
the  mind.     This  will  prepare  a  man  for  all  the  vicissitudes 
of  time  ;  this  will  help  him  to  go  on  his  way  rejoicing  in  . 
tribulation  ;  and  this  will  enable  him  to  look  the  king  of 


214 


FAITH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


terrors  in  the  face  without  fear,  and  to  adopt  the  exulting  lan- 
guage of  the  prophet, "  Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more 
than  conquerors  through  Him  that  loved  us.  For  I  am 
persuaded  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  prin- 
cipalities, nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to 
come,  nor  height,  nor  depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall 
be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of  God,  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  our  Lord."  O,  be  persuaded  of  the  necessity 
of  this  faith — of  the  necessity  of  putting  your  soul  out  of 
the  reach  of  hazard !  Until  you  believe  in  God,  you  are  like 
a  frail  bark  on  the  mighty  ocean,  which,  having  lost  its  rudder 
and  its  pilot,  floats  at  the  mercy  of  the  winds  and  the  waves, 
around  which  the  tempest  is  gathering,  and  which  must 
consequently  be  ultimately  lost.  You  ought  not  to  live 
another  moment  without  crying  to  the  Lord  for  help,  and 
laying  hold  of  the  hope  set  before  you ;  then,  indeed,  if 
you  flee  to  the  mercy  of  God  in  Christ — if  you  obtain  a 
sense  of  acceptance  with  him — if  you  have  the  blessed 
assurance  that  you  have  given  up  your  whole  heart  to  him 
— then  may  you  rest  in  peace  ;  all  is  well,  whatever  may 
be  your  external  circumstances.  O  !  is  it  not  the  greatest 
infatuation  and  madness  for  an  immortal  being,  treading  on 
the  verge  of  eternity,  and  liable  every  moment  to  the  stroke 
of  death,  and  the  wrath  of  God,  to  endanger  his  greatest 
interests,  and  to  rest  contented  and  secure,  while  he  is 
liable  to  an  eternity  of  wo  ?  My  fellow-sinner,  if  you 
have  hitherto  professed  to  believe  the  Bible,  and  yet  with 
the  multitude  have  neglected  Jesus  and  salvation,  learn 
more  wisdom  now.  You  cannot  neglect  these  much  longer, 
without  neglecting  them  for  ever.  Be,  then,  what  you 
profess  to  be,  not  a  hypocrite  or  a  practical  infidel,  and 
you  will  be  a  Christian. 

But  faith  admits  of  degrees.  It  may  be  genuine,  yet 
weak  and  fluctuating.  In  such  case  it  never  fails  to  im- 
press its  own  character  on  the  whole  of  our  experience, 


FAITH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


215 


and  if  our  faith  be  feeble,  so  will  our  strength,  our  peace, 
and  our  patience.     All  the  disquietudes  which  a  Christian 
feels,  spring  from  the  weakness  and  instability  of  his  faith 
in  God.     Outward  things  are  often  blamed,  and  these  may 
be  very  trying,  but  these  would  have   no  power  to  over- 
whelm, or  even  to  distress  his  mind,  if  faith  rested  immov- 
ably on  the  sure  principles  of  the  word  of  God.    The  primi- 
tive Christians  could  say,  "  We  are  troubled  on  every  side, 
yet  not  distressed  ;  sorrowful,  yet  always  rejoicing."    It  is 
possible,  therefore,  to  be  in  great  tribulation,  and  yet  pos- 
sess peace  and  joy  ;  and  the  true  reason  why  Christians 
are  at  times   so  accessible  to  fear,  and  so  depressed  by 
affliction  of  various  kinds,  is,  that  they  do  not  sufficiently 
trust  in  God.     "  If  ye  will  not  believe,  surely  ye  shall  not 
be  established."     Make  it,  then,  your  study  and  prayer  to 
bring  faith  into  constant  and  lively  exercise.     Diligently 
use  the  means  which  God  hath  appointed  for  the  increase 
of  it.     Meditate  on  the  truth  in  which  faith  is  concerned. 
Read  the  word  of  God,  especially  its  great  and  precious 
promises,  in  the  spirit  of  prayer.     Stir  up  the  gift  which 
is  in  you.     Earnestly  seek  for  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Spirit  ; 
and  seek  for  all  through  Jesus  Christ.     So  shall  you  obtain 
like  precious  faith  with  the  children  of  God  in  all  ages ; 
then  live  under  its  influence,  and  you  shall  enjoy  its  bless- 
ings and  comforts  through  life.     You  may  have  to  pass 
through  tribulation,  yea,  much  tribulation,  but  it  will  be  on 
the  road  to  the  kingdom  ;  and  faith  will  bring  down  Christ 
from  heaven  to  be  your  staff*  of  dependence,  and  your 
rod  of  defense.     The  further  you  advance  on  that  road,  the 
more  lively  will  be  your  anticipations  of  the  blissful  termi- 
nation ;  and  when    at  length    you   shall   arrive  at   your 
long-desired,  long-expected  heaven,  and  "  God  shall  wipe 
away  all  tears  from  your  eyes,"  then  shall  you  experience 
that  patient,  active  faith  is  *•  found  unto  praise,  and  glory, 
and  honor,  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus  Christ." 


216 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


217 


PREPARATION  AGAINST  AFFLICTION. 

The  wise  man,  saith  the  Bible,  walks  with  God, 
Surveys  far  on  the  endless  lane  of  life  ; 
Values  his  soul,  thinks  of  eternity, 
Both  worlds  considers,  and  provides  for  both , 
With  reason's  eye  his  passions  guards  ;  abstains 
From  evil,  lives  on  hope,  on  hope  the  fruit 
Of  faith ;  looks  upward,  purifies  his  soul. 
Expands  his  v^dng8,  and  mounts  into  the  skies, 
Passes  the  sun,  and  gains  his  Father's  house, 
And  drinks  with  angels  from  the  fount  of  bliss. 

••  A  PRUDENT  MAN  FORSEETH  THE  EVIL  AND  HIDETH  HXMSELF ;  BUT 
THE  SIMPLE  PASS  ON  AND  ARE  PUNISHED."— Prov.  xxii,  3- 

Nothing  is  more  common  than  for  men,  when  in  pros- 
perous circumstances,  to  indulge  a  persuasion  that  they 
shall  have  no  changes.  In  life  they  studiously  put  away 
the  thought  of  dying ;  in  health  they  look  for  its  continu- 
ance as  a  thing  of  course;  in  wealth  they  flatter  themselves 
that  they  shall  never  know  poverty;  and,  when  in  full 
possession  of  the  applause  and  honor  of  the  world,  they 
repel  the  idea  that  they  can  ever  become  the  objects  of 
calumny,  disgrace,  and  scorn.  This  is  easily  explained. 
Present  things  most  powerfully  impress  the  mind.  Take  a 
man  in  trouble,  and  with  what  difiiculty  will  you  persuade 
him  to  expect  better  days!  The  gloom  of  his  situation 
darkens  his  soul,  and  precludes  the  admission  of  those 
considerations  which  inspire  cheerfulness  and  hope. 
Take  a  man  in  agreeable  circumstances,  and  his  feelings 
will  give  a  color  to  future  scenes ;  because  everything  is 
now  easy,  he  presumes  upon  the  continuance  of  pleasure 
and  prosperity.  The  mind,  softened  down  by  indulgence, 
shrinks  even  from  the  contemplation  of  difficulties ;  and 
although  he  sees  before  him  dayly  examples  of  the  insta- 


bility of  all  things  earthly,  yet,  by  a  strange  deception,  he 
persuades  himself  that  his  own  case  will  form  an  exception 
to   general    experience.     Nor  is  this   the  case   with  the 
people  of  the  world  only ;  even  the  godly  are  in  danger 
from  the  same  evil.     David  is  an  example.     Though  he 
had  passed  through  so  many  trying  scenes,  the  ease  which 
succeeded  seems  to  have  erased  the  impression  of  them  from 
his  mind,  and,  by  continued  indulgence,  his  hopes  became 
earthly,  rash,  and  presuming.     "  In  my  prosperity  I  said, 
I  shall  never  be  moved."     Hence  the  admonition  of  the 
wise  man,  "  If  a  man  live  many  years,  and  rejoice  in  them 
all ;  yet  let  him  remember  the  days  of  darkness,  for  they 
shall  be  many :  all  that  cometh  is  vanity."     To  the  same 
purport  is  the  caution  of  the  apostle  :  "  Boast  not  thyself 
of  to-morrow,  for  thou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring 
forth."     The  caution  is  not  designed  to  imbitter  the  com- 
forts of  life,  to  inspire  apprehension  and  gloom,  or  to  cause 
us  to  live  with  a  troubled  and  desponding  mind ;  but  to 
remind  us  of  unavoidable  calamities,  to  keep  us  from  being 
surprised  and  discontented  when  they  arrive,  and  to  induce 
preparation  for  that  which  must,  in  some  form  or  other, 
sooner  or  later  be  our  portion.     The  following  directions 
will  point  out  in  what  that  preparation  should  consist : — 

Frequently  contemplate  the  possibility  of  a  change,  and 
expect  afflictions  before  they  come.  That  change  and  muta- 
bility characterize  the  present  state  is  a  truth  so  obvious, 
that  an  attempt  to  confirm  it  is  like  proving  that  all  men 
are  mortal.  The  slightest  observation  may  serve  to  show 
us  that  the  seeds  of  alteration  are  everywhere  sown,  and 
that  there  can  be  no  permanent  stability  in  man's  condition 
upon  earth.  In  our  health,  life,  possessions,  connections, 
and  enjoyments,  there  are  causes  of  decay  perpetually 
working — secretly  undermining  the  foundation  of  what 
appears  the  most  stable,  and  tending  to  produce  changes 
^f  the  nature  and  extent  of  which  we  are  necessarily 

10 


ii 


It 


218 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


ignorant,  so  that  nothing  is,  or  can  be,  stationary  on  eaith. 
Nor  ought  we  to  be  unmindful  of  the  fact,  that  frequently 
the  most  important  changes  which  take  place  in  human 
condition  arise  from  causes  in  themselves  small  and  insig- 
nificant.    There  needs   no  great  preparation  to  overturn 
what  seems   most  secure,  or  to  blast  what  seems  most 
flourishing.     A  gale  of  wind  rises  on  the  ocean,  and  the 
vessel  which  contains  our  friends,  or  our  fortune,  is  over- 
whelmed in  the  deep.     A  spark  of  a  candle  falls  by  night 
in  some  neglected  corner,  and  our  dwelling  is  consumed, 
and  perhaps  we  are  rendered  pennyless.     A  casual  blow, 
or  a  sudden  fall,  deranges  some  part  of  our  bodily  system, 
and  we  are  doomed,  in  consequence,  to  languish  out  life 
in  pain  and  misery.     Is  it  not,  therefore,  an  act  of  highest 
wisdom,  often  to  take  realizing  views  of  the  uncertainty 
of  our  condition  ?     The  consideration  would  spread  itself 
like  a  cloud  to  correct  the  illusions  of  prosperity.    It  would 
place  a  check  upon  our  pride,  our  confidence,  and  our  attach- 
ments.    It  would  sanctify  our  possessions,  and  keep  pros- 
perity from  destroying  us.     It  would  lead  us  to  use  soberly 
and  profitably  the  blessings  we  are  permitted  to  enjoy,  so 
long  as  they  are  continued  :   and  above  all,  it  would  prepare 
us  for  their  removal  whenever  they  are  taken  away.    When 
the  mind  is  prepared  for  adverse  circumstances  by  a  proper 
anticipation  of  them,  it  takes  away  a  part  of  their  bitterness, 
and  prevents  those  violent  concussions  of  feeling  which 
are  usually  produced  when  we  are  surprised  by  unexpected 
calamity.     Accustom  yourself,  therefore,  to  reflections  so 
appropriate  and  useful.     Seek  to  possess  a  suitable  state 
of  mind  for  all  the  changes  which  may  arise.     It  is  better 
to  depend  upon  constitution  than  atmosphere,  and  to  be 
equal  to  any  climate  rather  than  be  confined  to  one.     It  is 
better  to  depend  upon  appetite  than  dainties ;  delicacies  are 
not  always  to  be  procured,  and  what  becomes  of  you  when 
they  are  wanting  if  you  cannot  live  upon  common  food  I 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


219 


Divine  grace  will  preserve  the  balance  of  the  soul  in  vary- 
ing conditions.  It  will  prepare  you  for  the  storm  as  well 
as  the  calm  in  navigating  the  ocean  of  life.  This  sancti- 
fied Daniel  when  a  minister  of  state,  and  soothed  him  when 
in  the  den  of  lions.  This  enabled  Paul  to  say,  "  I  know 
both  how  to  be  abased,  and  I  know  how  to  abound :  every- 
where and  in  all  things  I  am  instructed,  both  to  be  full  and 
to  be  hungry,  both  to  abound  and  to  sufier  need.  I  can  do 
all  things  through  Christ  which  strengtheneth  me." 

Break  off  all  your  sins  hy  sincere  and  hearty  repentance. 
It  is  sin  which  gives  to  afliiction  its  chief  bitterness.    When 
aflliction  finds  us«in  a  state  of  iniquity,  it  glares  in  upon  the 
mind  in  the  awful  form  of  a  sin  avenger.     We  cannot  think 
of  our  state  as  sinners,  but  we  must  think  of  God  as  the 
enemy  of  sin  ;  or  of  ourselves,  but  as  the  objects  of  his  right- 
eous indignation.    Such  reflections  naturally  excite  dismay. 
Who  can  feel  himself  exposed  to  the  displeasure  of  the  holy 
and  just  One  without  anxiety  and  dread  ?    This  made  Adam 
and  Eve  hide  themselves  from  his  presence,  immediately  that 
their  eyes  were  opened  to  their  guilt,  and  that  they  knew 
they  were  naked.     This  made  Cain  exclaim,  "  Behold,  thou 
hast  driven  me  out  this  day,  and  from  thy  face  shall  I  be  hid ; 
and  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  every  one  that  findethme  shall 
slay  me."     And  this  made  the  Psalmist  exclaim,  "  If  thou, 
Lord,  shouldest  mark  iniquities,  O  Lord,  who  shall  stand  ?" 
O  !  when  calamity  thus  starts  up  before  us,  like  a  vengeful 
spectre,  dogging  our  transgressions  ;  when  the  thoughts  of 
God  flash  in  upon  us  only  with  the  awful  attributes  of  justice 
and  holiness,  the  pressure  of  affliction  is  aggravated  and 
increased  beyond  measure  by  the  stings  of  an  accusing 
conscience,  and  the  frettings  of  a  heart  dissatisfied  with 
itself,  and  trembling  under  a  sense  of  the  divine  indignation. 
How  is  this,  then,  to  be  avoided,  but  by  timely  repentance? 
Such  a  repentance  as  leads  us,  not  only  to  mourn  over  our 
sins,  and  to  condemn  ourselves  on  account  of  having  com- 


220 


PREPARATION-    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


PREPARATION   AGAINST  AFFLICTION. 


221 


mitted  them,  but  also  to  hate  and  renounce  them.     Lest, 
therefore,  the  malignity  of  sin  should  remain  in  your  soul 
when  affliction  overtakes  you,  delay  not  to  break  away  from 
it  by  genuine  repentance.     Be  careful  that  your  repentance 
be  sincere  and  abiding.     Apply  yourself  earnestly  to  it, 
and  see  that  your  efforts  be  conducted  in  a  spirit  of  entire 
dependence    upon  God.      Such  is  the  depravity  of  our 
nature,  that  we  shall  never  truly  repent  without  the  influ- 
ence of  the  divine  Spirit ;  that  influence,  however,  is  not 
designed  to  supersede  our  own  exertions.     He  does  not 
work  without  us,  but  by  us.     He  does  not  save  us  in  a 
state  of  indolent  inactivity,  or  heartless  indifference,  but  by 
exciting  us  to  vigorous  exertion.     "  Work  out  your  own 
salvation  with  fear  and  trembling,  for  it  is  God  that  work- 
eth  in  you  both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure." 
God's  working  in  us  is  made  the  motive  of  our  working. 
It  is  the  breeze  that  wafts  the  ship  along;  but  then  the 
mariner  must  hoist  the  sail  to  catch  it,  and  put  the  vessel 
to  the  wind.     It  is  the  rain  and  sunshine  that  cause  the 
seed  to  germinate  ;  but  the  husbandman  must  break  up  the 
soil,  and  manure,  and  sow,  and  weed.     What  you  have  to 
do,  therefore,  is  immediately  to  repent  and  believe,  and  to 
do  so  in  the  very  language  and  spirit  of  him  who  cried, 
*'  Lord,  help  mine  unbelief."     Then,  when  you  have  put 
away  all  your  sins,  if  affliction  overtake  you,  you  will  have 
but  one  work  to  attend  to,  to  prepare  yourself  to  meet  the 
shock  with  fortitude  and  patience.     When  guilt  and  afflic- 
tion meet  together,  they  aggravate  each  other,  and  form  a 
burden   fearfully   oppressive;   but,  if  the  conscience   bo 
purged  from  guilt,  affliction  becomes  comparatively  light 
and  easy — it  loses  its  nature,  and  assumes  altogether  a 
new  aspect.     It  is  then  a  preventive  of  sin,  a  corrective 
of  corruption,  an  exercise  of  grace,  a  conformity  to  Christ, 
an  assurance  of  God*s  love,  a  preparation  for  heaven. 
Seek  a  clear  assurance  of  the  favor  of  God,  and  of  your 


title  to  future  happiness.    This  is  a  blessing  of  the  greatest 
importance.     If  there  be  any  advantage  in  realizing  de- 
liverance from  the  curse  and  wrath  of  God— in  knowing 
that  sin  is  pardoned— in  being  able  to  approach  a  throne 
of  grace  with  holy  boldness— in  possessing  a  fervent  love 
to  God,  and  delight  in  him— in  the  experience  of  abiding 
peace  and  joy,  and  in  looking  forward  to  death  and  eter- 
nity with  pleasing  expectation ;  then  should  this  blessing 
be  made  the  object  of  earnest  pursuit,  for  all  these  advan- 
tages are  comprehended  in  it.     This  is  the  effectual  mean 
whereby  we  overcome  the  world,  and  are  enabled  to  enjoy 
prosperity  with  moderation,  and  to  endure  affliction  with 
patience.     This  blessed  assurance  at  once  raises  us  above 
the  love  of  the  world,  and  the  fear  of  calamity ;   for  it 
causes  us  to  rejoice  in  the  possession  of  greater  treasures 
than  the  world  can  bestow,  "  a  kingdom  that  cannot  be 
moved,"  and  a  hope  blooming  with  immortality :— treasures 
these,  which,  while  they  impress  a  character  of  vanity  and 
worthlessness  upon  the  best  things  which  the  world  can 
exhibit,  render  light  and  easy  the  worst  things  which  the 
world  or  mortality  can  inflict.     "  For  our  light  affliction, 
which  is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  ex- 
ceeding and  eternal  weight  of  glory ;  while  we  look  not  at 
the  things  which  are  seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not 
seen  :  for  the  things  which  are  seen  are  temporal ;  but  the 
things  which  are  not  seen  are  eternal."     "  Without  as- 
surance man  cannot  be  happy,  for  how  can  he  enjoy  peace 
and  comfort  while  it  is  doubtful  with  him  whether  his  state 
be  safe  ?     Personal  comfort  is  inseparably  connected  with 
Christian  assurance.     This  is  feh  at  all  times,  but  espe- 
cially when  we  are  passing  through  dark  and  distressing 
providences.     Without  assurance,  we  shall  necessarily  be 
timid  and  fearful ;  we  shall  be  liable  to  misconstrue  the 
ways  of  the  Almighty ;  anxiety,  doubt,  and  suspense,  will 
throw  a  gloomy  and  deepening  shade  upon  the  whole  of 


222 


PREPARATION  AGAINST  AFFLICTION. 


our  condition,  and  render  affliction  a  source  of  torment, 
and  death  an  object  of  dread.  O  !  the  all-sufficient  argu- 
ment for  submissive  acquiescence,  and  for  patient  hope, 
which  is  found  in  the  assurance  of  this  one  simple  fact, 
"  my  God  is  reconciled."  It  is  enough  of  itself  to  allay 
every  fear — to  warrant  every  expectation.  May  I  trust  in 
his  pardoning  mercy  ?  May  I  claim  him  as  my  Father  ? 
May  I  rejoice  that  my  name  is  written  in  the  Lamb's  book 
of  life  ?  Then,  as  a  child,  I  may  depend  upon  him,  and 
expect  his  constant  help.  Who  is  there  that  ever  mis- 
trusted, or  that  can  imagine  himself  mistrusting,  a  father's 
readiness  to  comfort  and  assist  him  ?  Who  is  there  that 
does  not  feel  that  a  parent's  love  extends  to  all  the  interests 
and  necessities  of  a  child  ?  It  is  a  matter  of  almost  in- 
stinctive feeling.  We  never  think  of  arguing  upon  it.  We 
take  it  as  a  thing  of  course,  and  just  so  do  the  Scriptures 
take  it  as  a  thing  of  course,  that  those  whom  God  pardons 
and  adopts  into  his  family  are  in  consequence  the  objects 
of  his  constant  care,  and  the  heirs  of  his  eternal  glory. 
"  Therefore,"  said  Jesus  to  his  disciples,  "  take  no  thought, 
saying.  What  shall  we  eat,  or  what  shall  we  drink,  or 
wherewithal  shall  we  be  clothed,  for  your  heavenly  Father 
knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  all  these  things."  Mark  the 
argument  employed  ;  an  argument  so  necessarily  involved 
in  the  very  terms,  that  he  has  deemed  it  quite  unnecessary 
to  give  it  expression.  God  is  your  heavenly  Father — a 
father  not  only  all  love,  but  equally  all  power ;  and  God 
knoweth  that  ye  have  need  of  his  assistance.  This  is 
sufficient ;  not  a  word  more  is  necessary.  He  will,  of 
course,  from  his  very  name  and  title  as  your  Father,  give 
you  all  you  need,  and  do  for  you  whatever  a  kind  and  good 
father  may  be  expected  to  do  for  a  beloved  son.  There- 
fore, take  no  anxious  thought  about  it.  He  has  made 
known  to  you  his  pardoning  mercy,  and  all  things  else  are 
but  the  overflowings  of  that  fountain — the  rivulets  that 


PREPARATION   AGAINST  AFFLICTION. 


223 


branch  out  on  every  side  from  that  broad  stream  of  love. 
O,  it  is  only  in  proportion  as  we  realize  the  gospel  doctrine 
of  reconciliation  with  the  Father  by  his  Son,  and  receive 
the  witness  of  it  into  our  hearts,  that  we  can  possess  the 
temper  of  the  gospel — a  temper  of  quiet,  thankful  acquies- 
cence in  every  appointment  of  God's  providence  !  When 
the  Spirit  of  adoption  cries  in  our  hearts,  "  Abba,  Father ! 
my  Lord  and  my  God!"  and  bears  clear  and  decisive 
'*  witness  with  our  spirits  that  we  are  the  children  of  God;** 
when  in  consequence  we  are  enabled  to  say,  in  the 
language  of  Watts, — 

"  Almighty  Love 
Hath  seized,  and  holds  me  with  immortal  arms : 
Here's  my  salvation,  my  eternal  life, 
Amidst  the  wreck  of  worlds,  and  ruin'd  nature ; 
I  am  the  Lord's,  and  he  for  ever  mine;" 

then  we  know,  come  what  will,  all  things  shall  work  to- 
gether for  good,  and  however  dark  the  cloud  which  may 
overshadow,  or  fierce  the  storm  which  may  beat  against 
us,  we  may  say  with  David,  "  Why  art  thou  cast  down, 
O  my  soul  ?  and  why  art  thou  disquieted  within  me  ?  hope 
thou  in  God ;  for  I  shall  yet  praise  him,  who  is  the  health 
of  my  countenance,  and  my  God."     Reader,  nothing  short 
of  this  assurance  will  fully  prepare  you  for  affliction.    Sin 
must  be  repented  of,  but  you  must  also  know  and  feel  that 
it  is  pardoned.     Without  this,  where  shall  be  your  comfort 
in  adversity  ?    where  your  hope  ?     Hasten,  then,  to  Him 
who  is  able   and  willing  to  save.     Seek  the  blessing  by 
earnest  prayer.     Come   immediately   to   Jesus,   and  cast 
yourself  upon  his  mercy,  and  commit  your  soul  into  his 
hand.    Do  you  wish  to  know  how  you  are  to  come  ?   Come, 
as  an  undone  sinner  to  an  all-sufficient  Saviour ;  say  with 
Peter,  "  Lord,  save,  or  I  perish."     Come,  as  an  humble 
penitent,   and  cry,   "  God  be  merciful  to  me   a  sinner." 
Come,  as  a  diseased  soul  to  the  great  Physician,  and,  with 


224 


PREPARATION  AGAINST  AFFLICTION. 


the  woman  in  the  Gospel,  say,  **  If  I  may  but  touch  the 
hem  of  his   garment,  I  shall   be  made  whole."     Come, 
as  a  poor  dying  man  to  Him  who  is  the  resurrection  and 
the  life,   "  He  that  believeth  on  him,   though  he  were 
dead,  yet  shall  he  live ;  and  he  that  liveth  and  believeth 
in  him  shall  never  die."      Accept  with  lively  gratitude 
the  provision  of  the  gospel.     Surrender  yourself  fully  into 
the  hands  of  the  Redeemer;  make  no  demur.     When 
you  get  the  faith  that  waits,  and  pleads,  and  prays,  it  will 
not  be  long  before  God  will  hear  your  earnest  prayer, 
and  say  unto  you,  "  I   am  thy  salvation."      If  now  you 
feel  that  you  greatly  need  it — if  now  you  sincerely  and 
ardently  desire  it — if  your  whole  soul  be  drawn  out  to- 
ward it — then  look  up  to  God  for  the  blessing  now.    It 
is  purchased  for  you.     You  are  sinful,  and   can  never 
merit  it.     You  can  never,  therefore,  be  better  prepared 
for  it.    All  things  are  ready  ;  come  to  the  marriage.     Rest 
not  until  you  succeed.     God  is  pleased  that  you  should 
take  hold  of  his   strength.      Jacob,  when  he  discovered 
that  he  was  wrestling  with  the  Angel  of  the   covenant, 
when  he  found  that  he  had  hold  of  a  being  who  could 
bless  him,  grasped  him  more  powerfully,  and  would  not 
let  him  go.     God  is  well  pleased  with  your  earnestness. 
Take  hold  by  importunate  prayer  of  the  same  Angel  of 
the  covenant ;  say,  "  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  unless  thou 
bless  me."     Yes,  and  he  will  bless  you,  and  you  shall  be 
blessed. 

In  the  time  of  prosperity  he  careful  to  maintain  a  conscience 
void  of  offense.  There  belongs  to  human  nature  a  sense 
of  moral  good  and  evil ;  a  faculty  of  the  mind  whereby 
men  feel  a  conviction  that  their  conduct  is  what  it  ought 
to  be,  or  the  contrary ;  a  reflecting  power  of  the  soul,  which 
compares  our  tempers  and  actions  with  the  divine  law, 
approves  of  that  which  is  good,  and  condemns  that  which 
is  evil.     While  men  remain  in  a  state  of  sin,  conscience 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION, 


225 


acts  the  part  of  an  accuser  and  judge ;   it   arraigns  and 
condemns,  and  thus  becomes  a  source  of  pain  and  torment, 
inspiring  the  heart  with  disquietude  and  fear ;  nor  is  it  till 
the  sinner  flies  to  Christ,  and  by  faith  applies  the  efiicacy 
of  his   atonement,  that   he  obtains  deliverance  from  its 
accusations.     This  alone  avails  in  freeing  him  from  con- 
scious guilt.     The  blood  of  Christ  purges  his  conscience 
from  dead  works  to  servo  the  living  God.     His  former 
terror  is  then  happily  exchanged  for  tranquillity ;  he  is  justi- 
fied by  faith,  and  he  has  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.     Conscience  is  no  longer  an  enemy,  but  a 
friend ;  and  so  it  remains,  while  he  continues  to  exercise 
himself  to  maintain  "  a  conscience  void  of  offense  toward 
God  and  toward  man."     The  advantages  of  a  clear  con- 
science are  incalculable.     To  feel  an  approving  mind— to 
enjoy  internal  serenity  and  peace— to  walk  in  all  upright- 
ness of  heart  and  life — to  have  access  with  boldness  to 
God,  not  the  boldness  of  presumption,  arising  from  a  delu- 
sive supposition  of  human  merit,  but  the  confidence  of  sin- 
cerity and  uprightness— to  commune  with  our  own  heart, 
and  to  feel  that  it  does  not  condemn  us  in  the  sight  of  God 
—to  look  up  to  heaven,  and  to  see  a  clear,  unclouded  sky 
—to  walk  in  the  light  of  God's  countenance— happy  expe- 
rience !     Blessed  is  the  man  who  is  in  such  a  case !    He 
needs  not  envy  the  prosperous  sinner — his  riches  exceed 
all  earthly  treasures.     When  afilictions  come  upon  him,  he 
has  no  misgivings,  no  fear ;  he  is  at  peace  with  God,  and 
he  is  at  peace  with  himself.     With  humility,  yet  with  sin- 
cerity, he  can  lake  his  appeal  to  a  throne  of  grace,  "  Re- 
member now,  0  Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  how  I  have  walked 
before  thee,  in  truth,  and  with  a  perfect  heart,  and  have 
done  that  which  is  good  in  thy  sight !"  and  he  can  claim,  on 
the  ground  of  promise,  support,  and  deliverance,  and  his 
appeal  is  not  in  vain ;  he  obtains  supplies  and  comforts 
which  bear  him  up  above  the  pressure  of  distress.     If,  then, 

10* 


226 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


before  the  approach,  or  under  the  assaults  of  trouble,  you 
are  solicited  to  the  commission  of  evils  which  would  bring 
guilt  upon  your  conscience,  remember,  that  whatever  de- 
files your  conscience  deprives  you  of  your  best  security, 
under  God,  against  the  power  and  malignity  of  affliction ; 
and,  like  a  deceptive  Delilah,  robs  you  of  the  secret  of  your 
strength,  and  leaves  you  weak  even  as  others.  Whatever, 
therefore,  you  hazard  or  lose,  keep  the  integrity  of 
your  conscience.  Steadfastly  walk  with  God  in  a  strict 
observance  of  his  ordinances — in  habitual  communion  with 
him — in  the  exercise  of  faith  and  love,  and  of  a  sound 
mind — and  in  a  zealous  resistance  of  all  evil.  A  good  con- 
science is  more  essential  to  happiness  than  all  the  fasci- 
nating seductions  the  world  has  to  offer.  It  is  a  jewel 
that  will  make  you  rich  in  the  midst  of  poverty ;  a  sun 
that  will  give  you  light  in  darkness ;  a  fortress  that  will 
keep  you  safe  in  the  greatest  dangers,  and  which  can  never 
be  taken  unless  you  surrender  it  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy. 

Be  careful  to  form  a  correct  estimate  of  the  world.  The 
great  reason  why  we  feel  such  excessive  grief,  and  such 
strong  temptations  to  impatience  when  deprived  of  worldly 
objects,  is,  that  we  estimate  them  too  highly,  and  cherish 
for  them  an  immoderate  attachment.  Love  is  the  master- 
passion  of  the  soul,  which  regulates  and  controls  every 
other ;  and  if  our  affections  are  unduly  placed  on  earthly 
objects,  according  to  the  intensity  of  our  love  will  be  our 
sorrow,  and  fretfulness,  and  discontent,  when  God  takes 
them  away.  Excessive  attachment  operates  on  us  as  it 
did  on  Jonah.  "  The  Lord  God  prepared  a  gourd,  and 
made  it  to  come  up  over  Jonah,  that  it  might  be  a  shadow 
over  his  head,  to  deliver  him  from  his  grief.  So  Jonah 
was  exceeding  glad  of  his  gourd."  He  set  his  heart  upon 
it :  the  shade  which  it  furnished  unduly  excited  his  solici- 
tude, so  that  when  God  smote  the  gourd  he  yielded  -to  the 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


227 


dictates   of  petulance  and   disappointment,  and  said,  "It 
is  better  for  me  to  die  than  to  live."     And  when  God  con- 
descended to  expostulate  with  him,  "  Dost  thou  well  to  be 
angry  for  the  gourd  ?"    Is   it   consistent  either  with  thy 
reason,  or  religion,  or  prophetic  character,  to  be  so  fretful 
at  the  loss  of  so  small  a  thing  as  a  gourd  ?    He  was  so  far 
blinded  by  passion  as  to  justify  his  discontent :  "  I  do  well 
to  be  angry,  even  unto  death."     Thus  if  we  immoderately 
prize  the  enjoyment  of   any  comfort  upon  earth,  in  pro- 
portion to  the  degree  of  our  attachment  will  be  our  tempta- 
tions to  fretfulness  and  opposition.     That  you  may  pre- 
pare  yourself  to  encounter  affliction,  sit  loose  from  the 
things  of  this  world.     Cherish  a  holy  indifference  to  mere 
sublunary  enjoyment.     Seek  earnestly  to  be  crucified  to 
the  world,  and  the  world  to  you.     Did  you  correctly  esti- 
mate the  real  value  of  earthly  objects,  how  empty  and  in- 
significant, how  vexatious  and  transitory,  you  would  find 
abundant  reason  for  concluding,  that  it  is  not  of  much 
importance   whether  you  be  rich  or  poor,  persecuted  or 
favored,  despised  or  honored,  for  these  are  circumstances 
which  can  affect  us  but  for  a  short  season,  and  have  no 
necessary  connection  with  our  most  important  interests. 
Our  true  interest  lies  in  peace  of  conscience,  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  God,  in  serenity  of  mind,  in  holiness  of  life,  and 
in  preparation  for  heaven.    Frequently  commune  with  your 
own  heart  concerning  what  the  world  is,  and  also  what 
it  will  one  day  appear  to  you.     Anticipate  the  awful  mo- 
ment when  you  will  bid  it  an  eternal  farewell.     Think 
what  reflections   are  most  likely  to  occupy  your  minds 
when  you  come  to  leave  it.     In  what  light  will  your  clos- 
ing eyes  contemplate  those  objects  which  appear  now  so 
inviting  and  important  ?     What  part  will  you  then  wish  to 
have    acted?     What  will   then   appear    momentous,   and 
what  trifling,  in  human  conduct  ?    Let  the  sober  sentiments 
which  such  anticipations  suggest  regulate  your  affections 


228 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


229 


and  desires,  and  cause  your  anxiety  to  concentrate  in  the 
one  thing  needful.  In  proportion  as  you  contemplate  the 
fashion  of  this  world  as  passing  away,  you  will  discern  the 
glory  of  another  rising  to  succeed  it ;  you  will  behold  all 
human  events — our  griefs  and  joys,  our  love  and  hatred- 
absorbed  in  the  ocean  of  eternity,  and  no  trace  of  our  ex- 
istence left,  except  its  being  for  ever  well  with  the  righte- 
ous, and  ill  with  the  wicked. 

Cherish  a  spirit  of  deep  humility.     If  pride,  which  has 
been  termed  the  master-sin  of  our  nature,  be  not  effectually 
subdued,  it  will  invariably  lead  to  an  undue  estimation  of 
ourselves,  our  merits,  and  pretensions  ;  and  when  affliction 
has  to  contend  with  the  pride  of  our  nature,  the  conflict  it  oc- 
casions is  generally  the  cause  of  much  greater  distress  than 
the  affliction  itself.     Where  there  is  pride  there  is  impa- 
tience, and  there  is  impatience  in  proportion  to  the  pride. 
Pride  cannot  endure  to  be  opposed  or  crossed  ;  and  those 
who  are  inordinate  lovers  of  themselves  are  always  dis- 
posed to  look  on  every  disappointment  of  their  wishes  as 
an  injury  which  they  do  well  to  complain  of,  or  to  resent. 
A  proud  man  when  he  is  chastised  of  God  is  discontented, 
and  perhaps  murmurs,  because  he  thinks  he  has  not  de- 
served the  affliction.     When  the  good  he  desires  is  with- 
held he  repines,  because  he  tiiiiJis  he  deserves  more  and 
receives  less  than   some  others  whom  he  esteems  more 
highly  favored.     A  man  of  this  character  declared  in  his 
affliction,  "  God  is  not  merciful  to  me.     Can  this  be  love  T 
I  have  »ot  deserved  what  1  sufler :  there  must  be  some 
mistake.    I  must  be  suffering  for  the  sins  of  others."   The 
discontent  which  pride  produces  may  not  always  be  so 
openly  expressed,  but  it  is  sure  to  rankle  in  the  heart :  now 
the  cure  for  this  is  self-denial  and  humility.    That  man  is  the 
most  secure  from  impatience  who  entertains  the  most  lowly 
views  of  himself ;  and  how  many  considerations  unite  their 
influence  to  induce  this  disposition !     A  very  slight  con- 


< 


sideration  of  our  original  state  as  sinners,  of  our  manifold 
defects  as  Christians,  of  our  utter  meanness  and  unvvorthi- 
ness  in  the  sight  of  infinite  purity,  may  well  awaken  in  us 
that  humility  of  mind  which  it  becomes  us  to  cherish.  Let 
a  man  take  the  low  ground  which  Christianity  has  assigned 
him  ;  let  him  ascertain  in  the  clear  light  of  truth  his  mani- 
fold defects  and  demerits;  let  him  lift  up  the  veil  that 
conceals  the  chamber  of  the  heart's  imagery  ;  let  a  deep 
sense  of  sin  and  un worthiness  bring  him  in  humble  pros- 
tration before  the  footstool  of  the  divine  throne  :  and  high, 
towering  imaginations  will  immediately  vanish,  the  spirit 
of  discontent  and  impatience  will  give  way  to  the  spirit  of 
devout  resignation,  and  in  the  place  of  the  language  of 
petulance  will  be  heard  that  of  submission  :  "  Shall  I 
murmur  and  complain  against  God  ;  I,  who  am  but  dust  and 
ashes  before  him ?  What  are  my  sufferings  to  my  deserts  ? 
I  should  be  ungrateful  indeed  were  I  to  repine  at  bearing  so 
little,  where  I  have  deserved  so  much.  Besides,  the  design 
of  God  is  merciful — it  is  the  advancement  of  my  real  welfare ; 
and,  therefore,  to  quarrel  with  the  dispensation  would  be 
to  quarrel  with  that  which  may  ultimately  prove  my  great- 
est blessing."  Thus  an  humble  state  of  mind  will  prepare 
us  for  affliction  ;  and  does  not  religion  require  this  ?  Is 
not  humility  a  habit  of  mind  blending  itself  with  the  entire 
exhibition  of  the  Christian  character  ?  A  greater  anomaly 
cannot  well  be  conceived,  than  a  disciple  of  Jesus  without 
humility.  Humility  is  the  characteristic  feature  of  all  who 
would  lay  claim  to  a  salvation  entirely  of  grace. 

Take  care  that  affliction  he  not  the  production  of  your  own 
misconduct.  It  cannot  be  denied  that  a  considerable  por- 
tion of  the  afflictions  that  are  endured  are  brought  on  by 
our  own  misconduct.  Disease,  poverty,  disappointment, 
and  shame,  are  far  from  being,  in  every  instance,  the  un- 
avoidable lot  of  men.  Here  is  a  man  anxious  to  be  rich  : 
he  despises  the  ordinary  sources  of  gain,  he  engages  in 


230 


PREPARATION    AGAINST    AFFLICTION. 


MVSTERY    CONNECTED   WITH   AFFLICTION. 


231 


speculation,  it  fails,  and  he  is  involved  in  poverty.  A  second 
fixes  his  affections  on  one  who  fears  not  God :  they  are 
united  ;   and  he  finds  his  greatest  hinderance  to  heaven 
where  he   should  have  received  his  greatest  assistance. 
A  third  indulges  in  a  style  of  living  and  dress  unsuited  to 
his  circumstances  ;  and,  unwilling  to  retrench,  he  subjects 
himself  to  a  thousand  perplexities  and  embarrassments. 
The  passions  of  men  betray  them  into  follies,  their  follies 
into  sins,  and  their  sins  into  misfortunes.     Yet  nothing  is 
more  common  than  for  such  as  have  been  the  authors  of 
their  own  misery  to  make  loud  complaints  of  the  afflic- 
tions of  human  life,  and  to  take  revenge  by  arraigning  its 
supposed  vanity.     "The  foolishness  of  man  pervcrteth  his 
way,  and  then  his  heart  fretteth  against  the  Lord."     Hence 
arises  the  necessity  for  watchfulness  and  circumspection. 
It  is  not,  perhaps,  always  in  our  power  to  avoid  these  self- 
procured  evils.     With  the  best  intentions,  men  sometimes 
err  in  judgment.     Nevertheless,  much  is  here  dependent 
upon  ourselves  ;  and  every  day's  experience  shows  that  a 
minute  and  vigilant  observance  of  our  actions,  and  their 
probable  consequenxies,  contributes  greatly  to  smooth  the 
path  of  life.     These  directions   contain  the  substance  of 
that  preparation  which,  by  divine  grace,  will  fit  you  to  en- 
counter affliction  ;  but  to  render  them  available,  you  must 
not  content  yourselves  with  mere  speculative  notions,  but 
practically  digest  them  in  your  heart.    It  is  possible  for  men 
to  possess  clear  and  correct  views  on  this  subject,  and  to 
be  very  expert  in  applying  them  to  others  when  they  are 
afflicted;  but  when  you  come  to  be  placed  in  affliction 
yourself,  you  will  find  something  more  to  be  necessary  for 
your  support  than  a  mere  notional  preparation  ;  you  will 
then  need  an  actual  experience  of  the  truth,  of  its  gracious 
power,    and  its    consolatory  influence.     This   alone   can 
strengthen  and  fortify  the  mind. 


THE  MYSTERY  CONNECTED  WITH  AFFLICTION 

Thy  ways,  O  Lord,  with  wise  design, 

Are  framed  upon  thy  throne  above, 
And  every  dark,  or  bending  line, 

Meets  in  the  centre  of  thy  love. 

With  feeble  light,  and  half  obscure, 
Poor  mortals  thy  arrangement  view, 

Not  knowing  that  the  least  are  sure, 
And  the  mysterious  just  and  true. 

My  favor'd  soul  shall  meekly  learn 

To  lay  her  reason  at  thy  throne ; 
Too  weak  thy  secrets  to  discern, 

I'll  trust  thee  for  my  guide  alone. 

"  O  THE  DEPTHS  OF  THE  RICHES  BOTH  OF  THE  WISDOM  AND  KNOW 
LEDGE  OF  GOD!     HOW  UNSEARCHABLE  ARE  HIS  JUDGMENTS,  AND  HIS 
WAYS  PAST  FINDING  OUT  !"— Rom.  xi,  3.^ 

The  degree  in  which  the  Almighty  hath  revealed  him- 
self to  man  furnishes  ample  proof  of  divine  wisdom.  In 
many  instances  we  clearly  perceive  that  either  more  or 
less  would  have  proved  injurious  rather  than  beneficial. 
Were  we  left  in  total  ignorance,  we  should  fall  into  irre- 
ligion,  doubt,  and  despair.  Were  we  to  receive  complete 
discovery,  it  would  raise  us  above  our  condition  as  pro- 
bationers for  eternity ;  it  would  prove  inconsistent  with  the 
actions  we  have  to  perform,  and  the  duties  we  have  to 
fulfill ;  it  would  overthrow  the  whole  design  of  our  being 
placed  in  the  present  world.  We  are  placed  here  under 
the  trial  of  our  virtue.  While  on  earth,  we  are  called  to 
walk  by  faith  and  not  by  sight.  Ignorance  of  the  events 
that  are  ordained  to  befall  us,  and  of  the  plans  and  ways 
of  God,  enters  necessarily  into  a  state  where  the  great  test 
is,  whether  we  will  believe,  on  the  authority  of  God,  the 


232 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


things  which  our  reasoning  powers  cannot  comprehend, 
and  which  the  mental  eye  cannot  penetrate.  If  it  were 
possible  for  all  the  obscurity  that  surrounds  us  to  be  dis- 
pelled, so  that  the  works  and  ways  of  God  should  appear 
to  us  in  the  same  bright  and  unmingled  light  in  which  they 
are  seen  by  himself,  what  room  would  be  left  fur  the  exer- 
cise of  faith?  If  his  designs  and  operations  could  be 
comprehended  by  us  as  fully  and  as  clearly  as  a  mathe- 
matical theorem,  the  mere  application  of  our  mental  powers, 
independent  of  divine  aid,  would  be  sufficient  for  the  at- 
tainment of  divine  knowledge,  and  faith  would  be  expunged 
from  the  list  of  Christian  graces.  We  are,  therefore,  per- 
mitted to  "  know  only  in  part,"  and  to  "  see  through  a 
glass  darkly."  We  are  left  in  that  state  of  conjecture  and 
partial  information,  which,  though  it  may  subject  us  occa- 
sionally to  distress,  yet,  on  the  whole,  conduces  best  to  the 
exercise  of  our  graces  and  the  improvement  of  our  charac- 
ter. The  remark  holds  good  whether  we  examine  the 
system  of  nature,  of  grace,  or  of  providence. 

The  scenes  of  nature  lie  open  to  our  view;  they  solicit 
our  senses,  and  present  us  innumerable  facts  illustrative 
of  the  wisdom,  power,  and  goodness  of  the  Creator ;  but, 
at  the  same  time,  they  exhibit  mysteries  which  the  wisdom 
of  man,  however  richly  endowed,  or  highly  cultivated,  has 
never  been  able  to  penetrate  or  reveal.  We  have  obtained 
a  slight  acquaintance  with  the  superficial  appearances  and 
sensible  properties  of  things,  but  of  their  substance  and 
essence  we  know  nothing.  The  minute  and  the  vast  are 
to  us  alike  inscrutable.  We  can  no  more  comprehend  an 
insect  than  we  can  grasp  a  world.  After  all  the  investi- 
gations of  the  wise,  they  have  got  but  a  few  steps  beyond 
the  vulgar.  A  true  philosopher  will  say,  in  the  language 
of  one  of  the  brightest  ornaments  of  the  philosophic  school, 
*'  All  we  know  is,  that  we  know  nothing."  Nature,  indeed, 
distinctly  points  out  to  us  a  God,  but  she  will  reply  to 


\ 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


233 


none  of  the  questions  which  curiosity  may  dictate.     She 
says  to  reason,  "  Thus  far  shalt  thou  go,  and  no  further." 

Revelation,  while  it  affords  us  the  knowledge  of  God, 
and  of  his  purposes  of  grace  to  the  children  of  men,  main- 
tains the  same  character,  and  mingles,  in  almost  equal 
proportions,  obscurity  and  brightness.     Revelation,  indeed, 
by  its  very  nature  is  intended  to  impart  information ;  it 
professedly  makes  known  to  many  of  us  the  "  deep  things 
of  God,"  and  we  are  under  unspeakable  obligations  for  that 
"  day  spring  from  on  high  which  hath  visited  us,  to  guide 
our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace."     The  information,  how- 
ever, which  the  revelation  contains,  relates  only  to  facts, 
not  to  the  theory  of  these  facts,  or  their  original  causes  :^ 
they  rest  solely  on  the  basis  of  divine  authority,  and  we 
are  left  as  much  in  the  dark  with  respect  to  the  mode  of 
their  existence   as  if  they  were  not  revealed.      How  a 
trinity  of  persons   exists  in  one  nature— how  God  was 
made  flesh  and  dwelt  among  us— how  God  was  united  to 
man— how  the  foreknowledge  of  God  can  consist  with  the 
free  agency  of  man— how  the  dead  shall  be  raised,  and  with 
what  body  they  shall  come— in  what  manner  spirits  exist 
in  a  separate  state— and  what  will  be  our  exact  condition 
in  another  state  of  things,  we  cannot  explain ;  these  are 
revealed  as  facts,  and  are  doctrines  which  we  must  admit, 
but  the  theory  of  these  facts  is  utterly  beyond  our  compre- 
hension.    Equally  with  nature,  revelation  brings  implicit 
obedience  to  the  test.     It  proceeds  to  a  certain  extent  in 
addressing  and  soothing  the  understanding,  just  so  far  as 
to  satisfy  every  impartial  inquirer  of  its  divine  origin  ;  but, 
in  its  peculiar  doctrines,  it  requires  the  implicit  confidence 
of  reason,  and  the  sacrifice  of  prejudice.     If  we  presume 
to  doubt  or  reason,  it  only  condescends  to  remind  us,  that 
"  the  ways  of  God  are  not  as  our  ways,  nor  his  thoughts 
as  our  thoughts." 

But  the  mysteries  of  nature  and  revelation  are  evident 


234 


MYSTERY   CONNFXTED   WITH   AFFLICTION. 


as  light,  when  compared  with  those  of  providence.  By 
providence,  I  mean  that  branch  of  it  that  relates  to  God's 
government  of  man  as  a  moral  agent.  This,  though  it 
presents  many  evident  marks  of  wisdom  and  design,  and 
makes  manifest  to  every  reflecting  mind,  that  "  verily  there 
is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the  earth ;"  yet  it  is  everywhere 
so  replete  with  enigmas,  that  the  best  and  wisest  of  men 
have  often  found  themselves  involved  in  the  deepest  j^er- 
plexity;  while  others,  of  unsanctified  minds,  have  availed 
themselves  of  the  circumstance  for  the  purpose  of  invali- 
dating the  truth  of  his  government  and  perfections.  We 
know  that  Providence  superintends  and  controls  all  events, 
that  all  the  divine  proceedings  are  the  result  of  unerring 
wisdom  and  unbounded  goodness,  and  that  God  invariably 
connects  his  own  glory  with  the  happiness  of  his  creatures ; 
but  when  we  attempt  to  apply  these  general  principles  to 
many  particular  cases,  we  find  ourselves  baffled  and  con- 
founded. Many  events  present  themselves  to  our  notice 
which  we  are  utterly  unable  to  reconcile  with  the  principles 
of  the  divine  government,  and  for  which  we  can  assign  no 
adequate  reason.  We  know  not  why  it  was  that  evil  was 
permitted  to  enter  into  the  world  ;  why  true  religion  was  so 
soon  corrupted  ;  why,  when  the  redeeming  scheme  was  an- 
nounced, it  was  so  partially  received  ;  why  the  religion  of 
Christ  is  yet  so  partially  diflused ;  why  idolatry  has  been 
sufliered  so  extensively  to  desolate  the  earth,  and  the 
mystery  of  iniquity  to  overspread  so  large  a  portion  of 
Christendom;  why  millions  of  our  fellow-creatures  are 
every  year  born  into  the  world  under  such  circumstances, 
as  render  it  almost  certain,  that  they  will  never  hear  of  the 
name  of  Jesus,  and  the  mere  possibility  of  whose  salvation 
is  reduced  to  the  lowest  conceivable  degree.  These,  and 
a  thousand  other  questions  with  respect  to  God's  general 
providence,  are  all  perfectly  inexplicable.  With  respect 
to  individual  cases,  we  know  not  why  the  young  are  often 


MYSTERY    CONNECTED  WITH  AFFLICTION. 


235 


cut  off"  in  the  flower  and  vigor  of  their  days,  and  the  aged 
left  to  languish  out  life  in  decrepitude  and  sorrow ;  why 
the  useful,  the  zealous,  and  the  holy  are  swept  away,  and 
the  worthless  and  injurious  left  to  flourish.     We  know  not 
why  riches  are  often  given  to  the  avaricious,  while  many 
of  a  liberal  and  bountiful  spirit  have  their  hands  tied  up  by 
poverty ;  why  merit  languishes  in  neglected  solitude,  and 
vanity  and  presumption  gain  the  admiration  of  the  world ; 
why  the   innocent  are  often  left  to  sink  beneath  unjust 
accusation    and   reproach,  while   the    unjust   triumph  in 
falsehood  and  deceit.     All  these  are  secret  things  which 
belong  exclusively  to  the  Lord  our  God.    We  cannot  under- 
stand them ;  they  bafllle  our  investigations,  and  confound 
our  reason.     Such  are  some  of  the  difficulties  which  pre- 
sent themselves  when  we  attempt  to  investigate  the  ways 
of  God.     Reason,  however,  if  duly  exercised,  will  suggest 
a  variety  of  causes  why  they  assume  this  mysterious  cha- 
racter, and  why  we  ought  to   suppress  in  ourselves  the 
workings  of  unbelief,  dissatisfaction,  and  despondency. 

"  Marvel  not. 
Ye  righteous,  if  His  dispensations  here 
Unequal  seem.     What  though  disorders  reign  ? 
He  still  presides,  and  with  unerring  hand 
Directa  the  vast  machine.     His  wisdom  can 
From  discord  harmony  produce ;  and  make 
Even  vice  subservient  to  his  ends." 

Much  of  the  mystery  which  pervades  the  dispensations 
of  Providence  arises  from  the  feeble  and  limited  character 
of  our  comprehension.  When  we  consider  the  infinite  un- 
derstanding of  the  divine  Being,  and  the  littleness  of  our 
own,  is  it  a  wonder  that  in  many  of  his  proceedings  he 
should  be  far  above  out  of  our  sight  ?  The  ways  of  God 
must  necessarily,  from  the  eminence  of  his  perfections,  be 
mysterious  and  incomprehensible  to  a  finite  intelligence, 
however  vigorous   and  elevated.      In    proportion  as  our 


236 


SfYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


MYSTERY  CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


237 


minds  are  filled  with  sublime  conceptions  of  the  grandeur 
of  Jehovah,  we  shall  feel  our  own  inability  to  penetrate 
and  comprehend  his  plans.  It  was  by  reflecting  upon  the 
majesty  and  glory  of  God,  that  Job  exercised  submission 
in  his  distresses.  "  God,"  said  he,  "  stretcheth  out  the 
north  over  the  empty  place,  and  hangeth  the  earth  upon 
nothing.  He  bindeth  up  the  waters  in  his  thick  clouds  ; 
and  the  cloud  is  not  rent  under  them.  He  hath  compassed 
the  waters  with  bounds  ;  the  pillars  of  heaven  tremble  and 
are  astonished  at  his  reproof.  He  divideth  the  sea  with 
his  power,  and  by  his  understanding  he  smiteth  through 
the  proud.  By  his  Spirit  he  hath  garnished  the  heavens." 
"  But  these,"  adds  the  patriarch,  "  are  only  parts  of  his 
ways,  and  how  little  a  portion  is  heard  of  them !"  When 
we  contemplate  God  by  the  light  of  revelation,  our  lofty 
imaginations  are  abased,  our  ignorance  is  exposed,  and  we 
see  how  impossible  it  is  for  creatures  of  the  dust  to  per- 
ceive the  wise  reasons  of  his  providence.  The  mind  of 
a  rustic  peasant  is  not  prepared  to  enter  into  the  secrets  of 
government,  or  to  judge  of  the  measures  of  the  state.  A 
child  is  incapable  of  comprehending  the  motives  which  in- 
duce his  father  to  exercise  the  discipline  and  restraints 
by  which  he  is  to  be  prepared  for  future  life.  A  person 
unaccustomed  to  abstract  reasoning  would  be  utterly  inca- 
pable of  understanding  the  principles  on  which  the  system 
of  a  Newton  is  founded.  If  this  is  the  case  with  respect 
to  two  finite  minds,  one  of  which  has  only  arrived  at  greater 
maturity  than  another,  how  much  more  disproportionate 
must  be  the  plans  of  infinite  wisdom  to  our  narrow  faculties ! 
"  As  the  heavens  are  higher  than  the  earth,  so  are  my  ways 
higher  than  your  ways,  and  my  thoughts  than  your  thoughts. 
They  are  high  as  heaven,  what  canst  thou  know  ?  deep  as 
hell,  what  canst  thou  do  ?  Canst  thou  find  out  the  Al- 
mighty unto  perfection  ?"  The  infinite  superiority  of  the 
divine   perfections,   therefore,  renders  mystery  unavoida- 


ble. He  cannot,  on  account  of  his  incomparable  greatness 
and  excellence,  bring  his  plans  and  operations  within  the 
comprehension  of  his  creatures.  Viewing  eternity  in  all 
its  extent — having  present  to  his  mind  all  that  is  past,  pre- 
sent, and  future — pursuing  a  plan  which  embraces  not  only 
time  but  eternity,  which  includes  all  men,  and  all  variety  of 
circumstances  ;  he  regulates  his  conduct  by  a  scale  which 
belongs  only  to  him  whose  wisdom  is  unsearchable,  and 
whose  understanding  is  infinite.  Surely  every  person 
must  acknowledge  with  respect  to  these  things,  "  Such 
knowledge  is  too  wonderful  for  me  ;  it  is  high,  I  cannot 
attain  unto  it." 

As  the  general  principles  of  the  divine  conduct  are  thus 
placed  beyond   our   apprehension,  so   are  the   occasional 
motives  of  His  dispensations.     I  allude  to  those  motives 
which  arise  from  his  perfect  acquaintance  with  the  charac- 
ters of  men,  and   his  accurate   perception  of  their  real 
wants  and  true  interests.     The  knowledge  which  we  have 
of  each  other,  and  even  of  ourselves,  is  at  all  times  limited 
and  imperfect,  and  liable  to  error.     We  are  often  deceived 
by,  and  deceive,  each  other ;  but  God  is  never  deceived. 
While  man  looketh  at  the  outward  appearance,  and  can 
see  no  further,  God  looketh  at  the  heart.     He  trieth  the 
reins  of  the  children  of  men.     He  weighs  their  spirit  and 
their  work.   He  is  consequently  enabled  to  form  the  truest  es- 
timate of  their  character,  and  to  regulate  his  designs  toward 
them  by  the  perfect  rules  of  equity  and  wisdom.     He  knows 
their  inward  corruptions,  their  peculiar  weaknesses  and 
infirmities,  their  besetting  sins,  the  tenli)tations  by  which 
they  are  more  especially  endangered  ;  no  wonder,  there- 
fore, that  a  plan  which  is  regulated  by  a  knowledge  so 
intimate  and  perfect,  should  frequently,  to  our  limited  and 
erring  judgment,  appear  perplexed  and  inexplicable  ;  or 
that  in  his  dispensations  toward  others,  God  should  some- 
times show  severity  where  we  anticipate   sympathy  and 


238 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


indulgence,  and  confer  marks  of  special  favor  where  we 
expect  the  displays  of  his  wrath.  Nor  is  it  less  difficult 
to  determine  in  our  own  case  what  makes  for  us,  or  what 
against  us.  Solomon,  that  sagacious  observer  of  human 
nature,  has  justly  said,  "  No  man  knows  what  is  good  or 
evil  for  him  by  all  that  is  before  him."  How  fully  is  this 
demonstrated  by  constant  experience !  No  man  can  say, 
with  respect  to  any  particular  incident  of  his  life,  that  this 
is  a  blessing,  or  that  is  a  curse,  till  he  hath  seen  its  con- 
clusion. You  meet  with  an  affliction,  you  deem  it  an  evil, 
but  it  ultimately  proves  a  blessing.  You  meet  with  a  grati- 
fication, you  call  it  a  blessing,  but  it  proves  the  occasion 
of  a  long  train  of  calamities.  We  are  in  a  thousand  cases 
so  unacquainted  with  the  operations,  tendencies,  and  results 
of  things,  that  we  know  not  what  will  prove  beneficial,  or 
what  injurious ;  or  what  efiect  untried  things  will  have 
either  upon  our  mind,  or  our  condition ;  or  what  influence 
present  events  may  have  upon  our  future  destiny.  The 
life  of  every  man  is  a  continued  chain  of  incidents,  each 
link  of  which  hangs  upon  the  former.  The  transition 
from  cause  to  efiiect  is  often  carried  on  by  secret  steps, 
which  our  foresight  cannot  divine,  and  which  our  sagacity 
is  unable  to  trace.  Evil  may  at  some  future  time  bring 
forth  good,  and  good  may  bring  forth  evil.  Every  period 
of  our  life  is  opening  some  new  page,  the  contents  of  which 
no  human  penetration  can  determine  ;  nor  is  there  a  single 
event  that  may  take  place  of  which  we  can  foresee  all  the 
consequences.  What  miseries  did  Lot  entail  upon  himself 
in  choosing  the  va!e  of  Sodom, "  because  it  was  well  watered 
everywhere  as  the  garden  of  the  Lord !"  The  first  time 
we  hear  of  him  afterward,  he  is  carried  away  captive  by 
the  five  kings ;  then  his  righteous  soul  is  vexed  by  the 
filthy  conversation  of  the  wicked ;  then  he  is  burned  out 
of  Sodom  with  the  loss  of  all  his  substance  ;  then  he  is 
compelled  to  mourn  over  the  death  of  his  wife,  turned  for 


MYSTERY  CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


239 


her  disobedience  into  a  pillar  of  salt ;  and,  finally,  he  falls 
into  sins  by  which  he  incurred  a  reproach  and  a  blot  that 
shall  not  be  wiped  away.  On  the  other  hand,  Ruth  was 
deprived  of  her  husband,  and  was  reduced  in  consequence 
to  the  lowliness  of  a  gleaner ;  but  her  poverty  led  to  her 
interview  with  Boaz  in  the  field,  and  to  her  becoming  the 
ancestor  of  the  Messiah.  The  case  of  Joseph  is  still  more 
impressive.  He  was  sold  into  slavery  by  the  treachery  of 
his  brethren ;  but  from  the  pit  and  the  prison  arose  the  in- 
cidents which  made  him  the  ruler  of  Egypt,  and  the  saviour 
of  his  father's  house. 

The  moral  defection  of  our  nature  also  renders  us  inca- 
pable  of  discerning  the   ways  of  Providence.     We  are 
disposed  to  regard  our  present  ease  and  indulgence  more 
than  our  spiritual  and  future  advantage.     Exposed  to  the 
influence  of  prejudice,  temerity,  impatience,  and  corruption, 
these  are   so  many  obstructions  to  clear  perception  and 
right  judgment.     We  are  prone  to  measure  the  equity  and 
expedience  of  things  according  to  our  feelings,  and  to  make 
them  the  rule  by  which  the  divine  dispensations  ought  to 
be  governed  ;  to  regard  God  as  the  executioner  of  our  pur- 
poses and  designs,  and  to  consider  him  as  being  such  a  one 
as  ourselves.     For  example,  do  we  suflfer  inconvenience? 
are  our  designs  defeated  by  some  untoward  event?     We 
suff*er  it  to  occupy  and  absorb  our  minds,  and  overlooking 
the  mercies  which  we  still  continue  to  enjoy,  and  the  pur- 
poses which    God   may  be   designing   to   accomplish   in 
reference  to  our  spiritual  condition,  we  magnify  the  cala- 
mity, and   regard  it  as  one  which  God  ought   to  have 
prevented,  or   must  immediately  remove.      Or,  does  the 
Almighty  withhold  from  us  any  of  the  objects  which  we 
deem  necessary  to  our  happiness  ?     Does  he  stay  back 
our  hand  when  on  the  point  of  stretching  it  out  to  grasp 
some  possession  or  enjoyment,  on  which  we  have  fixed 
our  hearts  ?     We  instantly  begin  to  question  his  kindness 


I  1^ 


240  MYSTERY  CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 

toward  us,  and  are  filled  with  surprise  and  perplexity  at 
the  mysteriousness  of  his  ways.     Are  our  affections  ex- 
cited? do  they  become  riveted  on  some  darling  object? 
then,  because  we  are  disposed  to  show  every  indulgence, 
we  suppose  that  God  ought  to  do  the  same.     We  seem 
to  rely  upon  him  for  the  fulfillment  of  our  wishes ;  and  when 
his  dispensations  thwart  our  designs,  we  regard  them  as 
altogether  unaccountable.    Or,  are  we  injured  and  traduced  ? 
are  we  subjected  to  wrongs  for  which  we  can  obtam  no 
redress  ?  then  we  conclude  that  the  Almighty  ought  imme- 
diately to  vindicate  our  cause  :  instead  of  conforming  to 
established  laws  and  rules,  we  wish  him  to  act  preter- 
naturally,  and  either  to  confound  and  overwhelm  those  who 
have  injured  us,  or  in  some  way  to  interpose  in  our  behalf. 
Thus  men  naturally  feel  disposed  to  insult  the  Deity  with 
their  advice  and  dictation ;  and,  when  these  are  neglected, 
when  the  Almighty  pours  contempt  upon  their  prejudices  and 
plans,  the  disappointed  creatures  begin  to  murmur,  and  to 
hishonor  God  by  their  suspicions  and  their  fears.     Need 
we  wonder  if  this  is  the  case  ?     God  will  not  be  mfluenced 
in  his  purposes  by  human  passions,or  human  reason.    He  is 
immutable  in  his  purposes  and  independent  in  the  methods 
by  which  he  accomplishes  them.     His  purposes  are  found- 
ed in  the  highest  wisdom,  and  the  happiness  of  his  people 
is  interwoven  with  the  tissue  of  his  own  glory  ;  but  his 
holiness  forbids  that  he  should  be  moved  by  their  ground- 
less fears  and  woes  to  change  the  course  of  his  procedure 
toward  them.     The  mystery  must  remain  inscrutable.     He 
desires  not  to  be  justified  by  our  reason  ;  nay,  he  designs 
by  the  mysteries  of  his  conduct  to  confound  our  reason, 
and  to  put  to  silence  the  wisdom  of  this  world ;  to  impose 
on  us  an  humble  reliance  on  his  perfections  ;  and  to  lead 
us  to    acknowledge  with  reverential  feeling,  "  How  un- 
searchable are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


24. 


out! 


!" 


Much  of  the  obscurity  of  Providence  arises  from  the 
unwillingness  of  men  to  censure  themselves.     For  often  those 
things  which  confound  them  are  only  the  natural  conse- 
quences of  their  own  misconduct.     One  man  pines  under 
a  broken  constitution,  and  complains  of  shattered  nerves 
and  multiplying  infirmities ;  he  contrasts  his  own  feebleness 
with  the  strength  and  vigor  of  others,  and  wonders  at  the 
unequal  ways  of  God.     But  let  him  ask  himself,  whether 
his  broken  constitution  is  not  the  consequence  of  his  own 
misconduct,  rather  than  of  the  purposes  of  God.     If  a  per- 
son forms  habits  of  self-indulgence-if  he  pampers  his 
appetite— keeps  irregular  hours,  and  takes  no  exercise— 
what  right  has  he,  if  his  health  falls  a  sacrifice,  to  com- 
plain of  the  mystery  of  his  case,  or  to  fret  against  the 
Lord  ?     Among  the  thousands  who  languish,  the  number 
who  innocently  suffer  is  but  small ;  with  the  great  majority 
the  decline  of  health,  premature  old  age,  and  the  prospect 
of  an  untimely  grave,  are  to  be  ascribed  solely  to  their  own 
imprudence.     A  second  person  pines  under  poverty ;  he 
complains  of  the  injustice  of  the  world,  of  the  crosses  and 
disappointments  which  have  attended  his  progress  through 
life  ;  he  looks  at  the  prosperity  of  others,  and  while  he 
mourns  over  the  hardness  of  his  fate,  he  exclaims,  "  How 
mysterious  are  the  ways  of  God!"     But  let  him  beware 
lest  he  be  found  to  charge  God  foolishly.     Let  him  ex- 
amine whether  he  may  not  be  the  occasion  of  all  that  he 
suffers      If  a  man  fails  to  improve  the  opportunities  which 
Providence  puts  into  his  hands  for  amending  his  condition 
—if  he  indulges  in  needless  expenses— if  by  prejudice  or 
obstinacy  he  plunges  himself  into  difficulties  and  embar- 
rassments-if  by  neglect,  or  by  attending  to  thmgs  which 
do  not  belong  to  him,  he  suffers  his  affairs  to  go  mto  dis- 
order  let  him  not  impute  his  distresses  to  the  providence 
of  God,  but  rather  charge  himself  with  being  the  author 
of  his  own  calamities.     A  third  is  dying  broken-hearted 

11 


li 


242 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


from  the  ingratitude  and  rebellion  of  his  children.  Often, 
in  their  childhood,  he  had  beheld  them  with  ardent  affec- 
tion, and  while  receiving  their  infantile  caresses,  he  looked 
forward  with  confident  expectation,  and  exclaimed,  "  The 
same  shall  comfort  me  ;"  but  instead  of  becoming  the  com- 
fort of  his  declining  years,  they  are  bringing  down  his 
gray  hairs  with  sorrow  to  the  grave.  He  is  now  full  of 
complaint  of  the  distress  and  misery  of  the  world,  and  his 
heart  "  fretteth  against  the  Lord ;"  but  is  there  no  ground 
for  suspecting  that  he  himself  is  the  chief  author  of  the 
sufferings  he  endures  ?  If  a  father,  in  the  government  of 
his  family,  suffers  himself  to  be  inffuenced  by  a  blind 
affection,  rather  than  by  reason  and  principle  ;  if,  instead 
of  enforcing  judicious  and  suitable  discipline,  he  yields  to 
the  humors  of  his  children,  and  by  excessive  indulgence 
fosters  their  corruptions,  why  should  we  wonder  at  the 
consequences  which  follow  ?  Having  sown  tares,  why 
does  he  think  it  strange  that  he  does  not  reap  wheat  ?  or 
marvel  that  he  cannot  gather  grapes  from  thorns  1  In 
each  of  these  cases  nothing  more  is  wanting  to  explain  the 
mystery  of  Providence,  than  an  acknowledgment  of  error. 
Instead,  therefore,  of  complaining  that  clouds  and  dark- 
ness are  round  about  him,  men  ought  rather  to  say,  "  We 
have  sinned;  what  shall  be  done  unto  thee,  O  thou  pre- 
server of  men  ?" 

We  also  err  by  judging  prematurely.  In  any  compli- 
cated work  of  human  art  it  is  found  necessary  to  be 
acquainted  with  the  whole  design  in  order  to  judge  of  the 
fitness  of  the  parts.  In  a  scheme  so  complex  as  that 
which  divine  Providence  is  pursuing,  where  all  the  parts 
refer  to  one  another,  and  where  what  is  seen  is  often 
subordinate  to  what  is  invisible,  how  is  it  possible  but  our 
judgment  must  often  be  erroneous  ?  We  can  see  only  a 
little  as  to  the  bearing  and  connection  of  many  parts  of  the 
divine  proceedings  ;    the   compass  of  our  observation  is 


MYSTERY    CONNECTED  WITH  AFFLICTION.         243 

small ;  the  field  of  our  vision  contracted ;  we  see  things 
only  in  part ;  we  see  them  separate  from  each  other ;  we 
see  the  beginning ;  with  the  past  we  are  scarcely  able  to 
connect  it ;  and  as  to  the  future,  all  is  dark.     A  providence 
occurs  ;  it  strikes  us  ;  we  endeavor  to  explain  it ;  but  we 
are   not  certain  that  we  have  seized  the  true   meaning. 
Perhaps,  what  we  take  as  a  whole,  may  be  only  a  part ; 
what  we  take  as  an  end,  may  be  only  the  way.     Besides, 
in  the  accomplishment  of  his  purposes,  the  Almighty  sel- 
dom takes  the  most  direct  method,  but  pursues  a  circuitous 
route,  including  several  other  coincident  purposes,  which 
may  be  no  less  important  than  those  which  we  deem  the 
most  necessary.     Thus,  he  does  not  always  appear  for 
our  deliverance  in  times  of  distress  at  the  period  we  ex- 
pect ;— he  does  not  always  nip  wickedness  in  the  bud  :— 
the  tabernacle    of  the  wicked  is  frequently  suffered  to 
flourish,  and  iniquity  to  lift  up  its  head.     To  us  this  mode 
of  procedure   appears    incomprehensible,  and  to  militate 
against  the  perfection  of  God  ;  but  it  will  ultimately  pre- 
sent  one  of  the  most  powerful  demonstrations  of  the  divine 
wisdom  and   compassion.     By    continuing  the  afflictions 
of  his   people  he  purges   away  the   corruptions  of  their 
nature,  and  exercises  and  matures  their  graces   thus  pre- 
parincT  them  for  a  state  of  immortal  felicity  and  glory.     By 
sparing  and  indulging  the  wicked,  he  prolongs  to  them  the 
means  of  grace  and  salvation,  and  furnishes  ad emonstra- 
tion  of  loving-kindness  and  tender  mercy  which  will  leave 
them  without  excuse,  and  render  his  righteousness  illus- 
trious in  their  condemnation.     The  ways  of  God,  too,  often 
exhibit  a  variety  which  is  scarcely  less  perplexing  to  our 
minds.     He  does  not  confine  himself  to  one  method  ot 
procedure,  or  to  one  class  of  instruments.     He  is  accus- 
tomed  to  act  variously,  according  to  the  nature  of  existmg 
circumstances,  and  the  dispositions  and  ^^P^^f  ^«  ^^™^^; 
Thus   he   sometimes   does  the  same  thmg  for  different 


4       ) 


I     I 


244 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED   WITH   AFFLICTION. 


ends,  and  different  things  for  the  same  end  ;  he  employs 
one  instrument  for  several  purposes,  and  several  instru- 
ments for  the  same  purpose.     In  this  way  affliction  is  in 
one  case  employed  for  punishment,  in  another  case  for 
improvement.     Prosperity  is  sometimes  sent  as  a  reward, 
and  at  other  times  appointed  in  displeasure.     Thus  one 
man  derives  from  affliction  and  poverty  his  greatest  com- 
forts, another  proves  prosperity  and  affluence  to  be  his 
greatest    curses.     This  variety  regards    the    objects    he 
proposes,  as  well  as  the  means  he  employs.     These  objects 
admit  of  different  degrees  of  importance,  and  it  not  unfre- 
quently  occurs  that  those  which  are  of  most  extensive 
interest  come  least  within  the  range  of  our  perception.    In 
his  dispensations  the  Almighty  hath  respect  not  merely  to 
the  good  of  this  or  that  individual,  or  people,  or  age,  but 
he  views  it  in  connection  with  more  important  good — of  a 
family— of  a  community— of  the  world — of  posterity.    Thus 
Abraham  wandered  in  a  strange  land  for  the  benefit  of  his 
posterity.     Joseph  was  sold  into  Egypt  for  the  preserva- 
tion of  his   family.      The    Jews  were  rejected   for  the 
salvation  of  the  Gentiles.    In  the  same  manner  the  minister 
sometimes  suffers  for  the  edification  of  his  charge  ;  the 
father  for  the  instruction  of  his  children  ;  the  Christian  for 
the  conviction  of  the  world.     On  these  accounts,  when  we 
perceive  particular  events  to  oppose  present  and  particular 
ends,  and  not  knowing  how  far  they  may  conduce  to  gene- 
ral, remote,  and  more  important  good,  we  find  ourselves 
perplexed  and  confused,  and   totally  unable  to  reconcile 
them  either  with  the  perfections  or  the  word  of  God.     Such, 
then,  at  present  is  man  ;  thus  incapable  of  exploring  the 
mysteries  of  Providence.     Instead,  however,  of  lamenting 
our  ignorance  and  incapacity,  let  us  rather  consider  how 
it  may  be  improved;  what  duties  it  suggests,  and  what  wise 
ends  it  was  intended  by  Providence  to  promote.     It  should 
teach  us 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED   WITH   AFFLICTION.  245 

Suhmlssion.     We  are  all  too  much  disposed  to  resent 
the  operations  of  divine  Providence  when  they  mterfere 
with  our  favorite  plans,  or  frustrate  some  purpose  on  which 
our  hearts  are  set.     We  are  prone  to  spiritual  insubordi- 
nation, and  though  restrained  by  the  fear  of  God  from  the 
actual  declaration  of  it,  we,  nevertheless,  too  frequently 
indulge  the  disposition  in  the  secret  feelings  and  reason- 
inffs  of  our  hearts.     But,  how  unreasonable,  how  ungrateful 
to  repine,  when  we  know  that  infinite  wisdom  and  good- 
ness  have  the  management  of  all  our  concerns! 

"  Wait  the  result,  nor  ask,  with  doul)ting  mind, 
Why  God  permits  such  things  ?     His  ways,  though  now 
Involved  in  clouds  and  darkness,  will  appear 
All  right,  when  from  thine  eyes  the  mist  is  clear'd. 
Till  then,  to  learn  submission  to  his  will 
More  wisdom  shows,  than  vainly  thus  t'  attempt 
Exploring  what  thou  canst  not  comprehend,  ^^ 
And  God,  for  wisest  ends,  thinks  fit  to  hide." 

What  though  we  are  ignorant  as  to  the  present  of  many 
things-what  though   our  afflictions  are  heavy,  and  our 
difficulties  numerous-let  us  remember  that  those  things 
which  appear  dark,  and  intricate,  and  mysterious  to  us,  are 
all  plain,  and  simple,  and  luminous  to  the  eye  of  Deity; 
that  what  short-sighted  mortals  are  ready  to  denommate 
unkind  and  severe,  appears  to  Jehovah  closely  connected 
with  wisdom  and  love.    The  events  of  time  are  all  directed 
by  an  infinite  intelligence.     There  is  an  end,  a  design  in 
every  movement  of  Providence,  and  that  design  will  ulti- 
mately be  found  every  way  worthy  of  God.     If  thou  art  a 
man  of  God,  be  of  good  cheer ;  everything  m  God  s  deal- 
incs,  as  to  thee,  is  going  on  to  the  final  and  glorious  issue 
of^hy  salvation-thy  complete,  perfect,  and  eternal  sal- 
vation      There  is  no  variableness  or  shadow  of  turmng 
with  him  ;   his  government  exhibits  no  caprice,  no  un- 


246 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH  AFFLICTION. 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH  AFFLICTION. 


247 


meaning  acts ;  lie  is  always  pursuing  his  plans  with  an 
eye  steadily  fixed  on  your  interest ;  and  if  he  does  not 
explain  everything  as  he  passes  along,  you  are  not  the 
less  secure.  "  The  clock  of  Providence,"  says  an  old 
divine,  "  always  goes  with  the  utmost  exactness,  although 
it  may  sometimes  be  so  dark  that  we  may  not  be  able 
to  see  the  hour."  In  the  possession  of  the  favor  of  God 
you  are  secure  from  all  the  evils  that  time  may  disclose, 
or  futurity  conceal.  Let  us  "  be  still  and  know  that  he 
is  God  ;"  or,  if  we  speak,  let  it  be  in  the  words  of  him 
who  said,  "  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul,  and  why 
art  thou  disquieted  within  me  ?  Hope  thou  in  God,  for  I 
shall  yet  praise  him,  for  he  is  the  health  of  my  countenance, 
and  my  God." 

It  presents  a  call  for  patience.     It  cautions  us  against 
being  too  precipitate  in  our  decisions,  or  too  anxious  to 
know  until  it  is  God's  pleasure  to  reveal.     We  are  not 
doomed  to  perpetual  ignorance  and  uncertainty.     The  sun 
shall  ere  long  arise,  and  chase  away  the  darkness  of  the 
night.      The  more  perfect  and  excellent  the  wisdom  of 
God,  the  more  incomprehensible  it  will  be  to  us  ;  but  the 
more  secure  we    are   in   its  guidance   and  guardianship. 
The   very  darkness,  therefore,  which   now  envelops   us 
ought  to  be  regarded  by  us,  not  with  doubt,  but  with  confi- 
dence and  joy.     It  will  ultimately  furnish  the  most  brilliant 
illustration  of  the  perfect  wisdom  and  boundless  goodness 
of    God.      On    every   sealed    volume    God   has   written, 
"  What  thou  knowest  not  now,  thou  shalt  know  hereafter." 
Is  it  too  much  to  wait  a  little  time  in  order  to  prepare  us 
for  the  full  revelation  of  God,  when  we  shall  see  him  as 
he  is  ?     We  are  not  wholly  without  satisfaction  even  now. 
There  are  some  openings  into  the  dispensations  of  Heaven. 
Many  events,  which  in  their  approach  excited  distress  and  ap- 
prehension, and  which  like  some  dark  and  threatening  cloud 
seemed  ready  to  overwhelm  }  ou,  yet  proved  to  be  big  with 


mercy,  and  broke  in  blessings  on  your  head.     And  in  how 
ra^y'lnstances  can  you  look  back,  and  say  with  Dav^d 
u  It  is  good  for  me  that  I  have  been  afflicted !      In  how 
different  a  light  would  the  patriarch  Joseph  view  the  events 
i  h     1  fe  wlen  he  had  seen  in  what  way  they  had  termi- 
nated  from  that  in  which  he  saw  them  when  led  away  by 
rihrnaelites  as  a  slave,  or  when  thrown  by  Potiph.  ^^^^^^ 
prison  !     In  a  future  state,  however,  all  mystery  will  be 
removed.     The  volumes  that  are  sealed  now  will  be  un- 
sealed and  unrolled  in  eternity.     Page  after  page,   and 
comment  after  comment,  will  be  presented  to  the  rev  rn 
gaze  of  the   spirits  of  the  just,  ^ho,  m  the  light  of  the 
lord,  shall  be  able  to  digest  all  the  truths  that  God  shall 
reveJl;  and  while  each  solution  shall  add  to  tl-ir  know- 
ledge,  it  will  also  add  to  their  enjoyment.       Ihis  will, 
probably,  give  all  the  emotions  of  freshness  and  astonish. 
Lnt  to  the  raptures  of  the  beatific  vision,  and  add  a  delight- 
Z  zest  to  the  devotions  of  eternity.     This  will  enable  the 
divine  Being  to  pour  in  continually  fresh  accessions  of 
light ;  to  unfold  new  views  of  his  character  ;  to  disclose 
new  exhibitions  of  his   perfections  ;    and  to  open  new 
mansions  in  himself,  in  which  the  mind  will  have  ample 
room  to  expatiate.     Thus,  throughout  eternity,  fresh  ob- 
iects  and  scenes,  never  before  brought  into  view,  will  be 
Snually  presenting  themselves    all  ^f^^l^^ll 
admiration,  gratitude,  and  love  ;  and  to  call  forth  the  swell 
LranTe-,  "  Blessing,  and  honor,  and  power,  and  glory, 
be  to  Him  hat  sitteth  on  the  throne.     Great  and  mavelous 
.e  thy  works.  Lord  God  Almighty  ;  just  and  true  art  thou 
all  thy  ways,  thou  King  of  saints."     Until  that  period 
"riv      nltead'of  perplexing  yourself  about  what  is  obscure 
res^o;  the  clear  and  authentic  discoveries  that  have  been 
Xen  of  die  divine  goodness.     Rest  on  the  innumerable 
erperinlntal  proofs  of  it  with  which  you  have  been  favor- 
ed     p    tTcularly  on  that  illustrious  proof  which  is  presented 


y 


248 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED  WITH   AFFLICTION. 


in  the  redemption  of  the  world  by  Jesus  Christ.  "  He  that 
spared  not  his  own  Son,  but  freely  gave  him  up  for  us  all," 
will  assuredly  bring  light  out  of  darkness,  order  out  of  con- 
fusion, and  cause  "  these  light  afflictions,  which  are  but 
for  a  moment,  to  work  out  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory." 

It  furnishes  a  stimulus  to  duty  and  perseverance.     Let  no 
one  say,  Since  I  am  surrounded  with  darkness,  as  there 
are  nothing  but  difficulties,  I  shall  therefore  sit  down,  and 
leave  it  all.     If  it  be  useless  to  explore,  I  shall  in  future 
use  no  exertions ;  I  shall  rest  where  I  am,  and  let  every- 
thing take  its  course.     Such  a  conclusion  would  be  equally 
unwise  and  prejudicial.     On  the  contrary,  if  there  be  an 
all-wise  Providence,  what  an  argument  is  this  for  the  ex- 
ercise of  faith,  of  patience,  of  hope,  of  prayer,  of  perse- 
verance !    The  darkness  which  surrounds  us  is  intended 
both  to  call  forth  our  inquiries,  and  to  enforce  our  depend- 
ence on  the  gracious  aid  of  the  Almighty.     "  It  is  not  in 
man  that  walketh  to  direct  his  way."     Surrounded  with  so 
much  perplexity;  brought   perpetually  into  contact  with 
things  which   exhibit  in   the  most  striking   manner   the 
scantiness  of  our  knowledge,  and   the  inefficacy  of  our 
efforts,  how  earnestly  should  we  implore,  and  how  thank- 
fully should  we   receive,  that  divine   illumination  which 
is   promised  in  Scripture  to  the  pious  and  the  humble. 
"  The  secret  of  the  Lord  is  with  them  that  fear  him,  and 
he  will  show  them  his  covenant."     "  He  will  guide  them 
with  his  counsel."     "  He  will   teach  them  the  way  that 
they  should  choose."     But  what  must  be  the  fate  of  him, 
who,   amid  the  darkness  which   sorrounds  him,  neither 
looks  up  to  heaven  for  direction,  nor  employs  the  powers 
with  which  he  is  invested  in  the  examination  of  his  own 
heart,  or  in  the  careful  observation  of  the  ways  of  Provi- 
dence ?     If  difficulties  present   themselves   to   the  most 
diligent  inquirer,  what  can  he  expect  who  brings  neither 


MYSTERY   CONNECTED   WITH   AFFLICTION. 


249 


patience   nor  attention  to  the  search,  but  passes  on  his 
way  in  heedlessness  and  unconcern? 

It  should  inspire  a  desire  of  heaven.     Under  the  divine 
government  everything  is  propelled  ;  everything  temporal 
is  rushing  forward  to  give  way  to,  or  to  unite  itself  with, 
that  which  is  eternal.     This  is  the  development  of  the 
whole  plan  ;  the  exemplification  of  the  whole  of  the  move- 
ments of  Providence.    What  a  motive  is  this  to  induce  us 
to  press  forward  to  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  where  not  only 
shall  the  ways  of  God  be  explained  and  illustrated,  but 
where  they  shall  all  obtain  their  full  accomplishment  in 
the  perfect  and  eternal  glorification  of  the  saints !     How 
valuable,  how  infinitely  important  must  this  be,  when  all 
the  machinery  of  Providence,  so  vast  and  complicated,  is 
employed   for  the   production  of  this  one  object!     The 
glorification  of  one  soul  is  of  more  esteem  in  the  sight  of 
God  than  all  temporal  honors,  riches,  or  pleasures.     And 
shall  God  thus  move  heaven  and  earth,  as  it  were,  for  the 
accomplishment  of  this  object,  and  shall  we  despise  or 
disregard  it?      God  forbid!     Learn  from  providence,  as 
well  as  from  nature  and  from  grace,  the  value  of  your 
soul,  and  "work  out  your  salvation  with  fear  and  trem- 
bling." 

It  should  induce  gratitude  for  the  clear  revelation  which 
God  has  made  known  of  the  things  that  belong  to  our  peace. 
He  hath  thrown  an  air  of  obscurity  over  a  thousand 
things  ;  but  not  over  the  means  of  attaining  life  and  salva- 
tion—here all  is  day.  He  hath  clearly  taught  us  what  we 
must  do  to  be  saved ;  how  we  may  draw  nigh  to  his  throne ; 
and  through  what  medium  we  may  pour  out  our  hearts  be- 
fore him.  "  It  is  not  a  secret  thing,  but  a  thing  fully  known, 
that  "  God  so  loved  the  world  as  to  give  his  only-begotten 
Son,  that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish  but 
have  everlasting  life  ;"  that  "  Jesus  Christ  came  into  the 
world  to  save  sinners ;"  that  he  is  the  only,  the  universal, 

11* 


250 


MYSTERY    CONNECTED   WITH   AFFLICTION. 


the  all-sufficient  Saviour  ;  that  he  tasted  death  for  every 
man  ;  and  that  v^rhosoever  cometh  unto  him,  he  vjrill  by  no 
means  cast  out.     We  are  assured  that  through  the  atone- 
ment, merit,  and  intercession  of  Christ,  we  may  obtain  the 
forgiveness  of  all  our  sins,  may  become  the  sons  and  daugh- 
ters of  the  Lord  Almighty ;  and  being,  through  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  regenerated  and  sanctified  here, 
may  secure  eternal  bliss  and  glory  hereafter.     This  is  your 
wisdom ;  this  is  your  happiness ;  this  is  the  only  way  to 
everlasting  life.     Apply,  therefore,  your  heart  and  con- 
science to  the  plain,  undeniable  declarations  of  revelation. 
There  will  be  no  excuse  for  any  who  live  a  careless,  sinful, 
worldly  life,  and  refuse  to  turn  unto  God  by  genuine  re- 
pentance, and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.     There  are, 
it  is  true,  mysteries  connected  with  revelation  ;  but  they 
are  not  of  such  a  nature  as  to  darken  its  evidence,  or  to 
render  in  the  least  degree  doubtful  anything  that  relates  to 
the  duties  and  prospects  of  accountable,  immortal  creatures. 
What  is  revealed  is  of  far  more  importance  to  you  than 
what  is  not  revealed.     God  has  withheld  the  less  and  given 
us  the  greater.     There  is  no  knowledge  of  any  kind  that 
will  bear  a  comparison  with  the  excellency  of  the  know- 
ledge of  Christ.     You  are  called  upon,  by  believing  on 
him,  to  lay  hold  of  eternal  life.    Have  you  done  this  ?    Have 
you  "  put  ofl*  the  former  conversation  which  is  corrupt,  ac- 
cording to  deceitful  lusts?"     Have  you  put  on  Christ ;  and 
are  you  walking  in  the  resplendent  steps  of  Him  who  is 
''  the  light  of  the  world  ?"     Or,  are  you  treasuring  up  ma- 
terials of  accumulated  condemnation,  by  saying  to  God, 
"  Depart  from  me,  for  I  desire  not  the  knowledge  of  thy 
w  ays  ?"     If,  with  the  advantages  you  enjoy,  you  are  walk- 
ing in  the  path  of  sin,  how  will  you  answer  to  God  when 
he  shall  sit  in  judgment  upon  you  ?     "  Walk  in  the  light, 
while  you  have  the  light,  lest  darkness  come  upon  you." 

M.  A  y't.  *  « 


ON   VISITING   THE  AFFLICTED. 


251 


ON  VISITING  THE  AFFLICTED. 

If  ever  sore  affliction  and  distress 

Have  made  thy  heart  with  tears  of  sorrow  flow ; 

If  ever  in  the  depths  of  want  and  wo 
Thy  soul  hath  felt,  with  humble  thankfulness, 
That  Christ  hath  power  and  grace  to  heal  and  bless ; 

O  think  of  tliem,  who  by  experience  know 

That  all  is  frail  and  fading  here  below ! 


"  REMEMBER  THEM  THAT  ARE  IN  BONDS,  AS  BOUND  WITH  THEM ;  AND 
THEM  WHICH  SUFFER  ADVERSITY,  AS  BEING  YOURSELVES  ALSO  IN  THE 
BODY."— Heb.  xiii,  3. 

The  sorrows  of  those  whom  God  hath  visited  with  af- 
fliction have  a  just  claim  to  our  compassion.  The  common 
feelings  of  our  nature,  the  consciousness  of  our  liability  to 
like  calamities,  unite  with  the  spirit  and  precepts  of  the 
gospel  in  calling  upon  us  to  visit  the  distressed,  to  sympa- 
thize with  them  in  their  woes,  and,  as  far  as  possible,  to 
bear  away  from  them  the  burden  of  calamity.  The  Scrip- 
tures teach  us  that  as  the  Almighty  "  hath  made  of  one 
blood  all  nations  of  men  that  dwell  upon  the  face  of  the 
whole  earth,"  so  it  is  incumbent  upon  us  to  look  upon  all 
men  as  united  to  us  by  an  intimate  relationship  as  our 
brethren  ;  consequently,  we  are  called  upon  to  endeavor 
to  soothe  and  comfort  the  afllicted  soul,  and  not  to  hide  our- 
selves from  our  own  flesh.  It  is  specified  as  one  of  the 
marks  which  distinguish  the  true  and  genuine  members  of 
the  body  of  Christ,  "that  if  one  member  sufl!er,  all  the 
members  sufler  with  it."  Acts  of  kindness,  and  visits  of 
mercy,  to  the  distressed,  enter  so  essentially  into  the  reli- 
gion of  the  gospel, — a  religion  which  is,  in  its  origin,  its 
eflfects,  its  principles,  and  precepts,  a  system  of  charity ;  a 
religion  which,  originating  in  the  love  of  God,  purposes  to 
restore  happiness  and  dignity  to  those  who  are  "poor,  and 


ON   VISITING    THE   AFFLICTED. 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


253 


niisoruMc,  and  wretched,  and  blind,  and  naked," — that  they 
arc  allirmed  to  be  the  amount  and  criterion  of  a  genuine 
profession.  "Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God  and 
the  Father  is  this,  to  visit  the  fatherless  and  the  widow  in 
their  atlliction;"  and  accordingly  we  find,  that  wherever 
the  power  of  the  gospel  has  been  experienced,  and  its  spirit 
imbibed,  the  heart  has  been  inspired  with  tender  compas- 
sion, and  works  of  disinterested  liberality  have  abounded. 
This  was  its  novel  and  astonishing  effect  at  the  commence- 
ment of  its  promulgation  :  "  The  multitude  of  them  that 
believed  were  of  one  heart,  and  of  one  soul ;  neither  said 
any  of  them  that  aught  of  the  things  which  he  possessed 
were  his  own,  but  they  had  all  things  in  common."  St. 
Paid,  when  writing  to  the  Corinthians,  says  of  the  Mace- 
donians, that  "in  a  great  trial  of  affliction  the  abundance  of 
their  joy  and  their  deep  poverty  abounded  unto  the  riches 
of  their  liberality."  A  Christian  is  called  upon  to  show 
mercy  to  others  on  the  ground  that  he  has  received  mercy 
of  the  Lord.  In  addition  to  innumerable  other  acts  of  his 
favor,  God  has  bestowed  upon  him  the  infinitely  richer 
blessings  of  pardon  and  grace.  For  him  he  bowed  the 
heavens,  and  came  down ;  for  him  the  great  sacrifice  was 
offered  on  Calvary,  in  virtue  of  which  he  is  alone  entitled 
to  lift  up  his  head,  and  to  rejoice  in  a  sense  of  sins  forgiven. 
And  as  he  lives  from  day  to  day,  his  un worthiness  and  guilt 
render  fresh  acts  of  mercy  necessary  for  his  safety.  Is  it 
for  one,  who  participates  so  largely  of  the  mercy  of  Heaven, 
to  be  unmiiidi'ul  of  the  wants  and  woes  of  his  fellows? 
Where,  then,  is  reason ;  where  is  gratitude ;  whore  the  small- 
«iHt  sense  of  his  infinite  and  eternal  obligations  ?  Can  he  be 
indifferent  to  the  miseries  of  others,  when  his  own  have 
awakened  attention  in  the  world  above,  and  on  him  Heaven 
has  poured  the  dioirest  stores  of  mercy  ?  Surely,  it  must 
be  iuhlantly  seen,  that  "  bowels  of  mercies,  kindness,  hum- 
bleness of  mind,  meekness,  and  long-suffering,"  ought  to 


I 


characterize  the  professor  of  the  gospel.  Living  himself 
upon  mercy,  mercy  ought  to  be  the  prominent  attribute 
of  his  character,  the  guide  of  his  thoughts,  the  director  of 
his  path,  the  steward  of  all  his  goods.  Among  the  several 
offices  of  Christian  duty,  the  performance  or  the  neglect  of 
which  is  represented  by  our  Lord  as  influencing  the  sen- 
tence to  be  passed  upon  each  of  us  at  the  last  day,  a  pro- 
minent place  is  assigned  to  attention  to  the  wants  and 
sufferings  of  the  afflicted.  "  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye 
gave  me  meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink  :  I 
was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in  :  naked,  and  ye  clothed 
me  :  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me  :  I  w^as  in  prison,  and 
ye  came  unto  me."  Further,  what  noble  examples  are 
placed  before  us  to  engage  our  imitation  !  Paul  coula  say, 
"  Who  is  weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  Who  is  offended, 
and  I  burn  not  ?"  Moses  chose  "  rather  to  suffer  afflic- 
tion with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of 
sin  for  a  season;"  and  David  could  say,  even, of  those  who 
rewarded  him  evil  for  good,  "  When  they  were  sick,  my 
clothing  was-  sackcloth :  I  humbled  myself  with  fasting : 
I  behaved  myself  as  though  he  had  been  my  friend  or 
brother :  I  bowed  down  heavily  as  one  that  mourneth  for 
his  mother."  How  beautiful  was  the  sympathy  which  was 
expressed  to  Job  at  the  close  of  his  captivity !  "  Then  came 
to  him  all  his  brethren,  and  all  his  sisters,  and  all  they  who 
had  been  of  his  acquaintance  before,  and  did  eat  bread  with 
him  in  his  house;  and  they  bemoaned  him,  and  comforted 
him  for  all  the  evil  that  God  had  brought  upon  him :  every 
man  also  gave  him  a  piece  of  money,  and  every  one  an 
ear-ring  of  gold."  Think  too  of  the  example  of  Him  who 
bore  our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows  ;  in  whom  every 
mourner  saw  the  meltings  of  pity,  and  the  kindness  of 
friendship.  Benevolence  was  the  garb  in  which  all  his 
other  virtues  were  arrayed,  the  soft  lustre  with  which  they 
were  surrounded  and  adorned.    His  miracles  were  miracles 


252 


ON   VISITING   THE  AFFLICTED. 


miserable,  and  wretched,  and  blind,  and  naked," — that  they 
are  afhrmed  to  be  the  amount  and  criterion  of  a  genuine 
profession.    "Pure  religion  and  undefilcd  before  God  and 
the  Father  is  this,  to  visit  the  fatherless  and  the  widow  in 
their  affliction ;"  and  accordingly  we  find,  that  wherever 
the  power  of  the  gospel  has  been  experienced,  and  its  spirit 
imbibed,  the  heart  has  been  inspired  with  tender  compas- 
sion, and  works  of  disinterested  liberality  have  abounded. 
This  was  its  novel  and  astonishing  effect  at  the  commence- 
ment of  its  promulgation :  "  The  multitude  of  them  that 
believed  were  of  one  heart,  and  of  one  soul ;  neither  said 
any  of  them  that  aught  of  the  things  which  he  possessed 
were  his  own,  but  they  had  aU  things  in  common."     St. 
Paid,  when  writing  to  the  Corinthians,  says  of  the  Mace- 
donians, that  "in  a  great  trial  of  affliction  the  abundance  of 
their  joy  and  their  deep  poverty  abounded  unto  the  riches 
of  their  liberality."     A  Christian  is  called  upon  to  show 
mercy  to  others  on  the  ground  that  he  has  received  mercy 
of  the  Lord.     In  addition  to  innumerable  other  acts  of  his 
favor,  God  has  bestowed  upon  him  the  infinitely  richer 
blessings  of  pardon  and  grace.     For  him  he  bowed  the 
heavens,  and  came  down  ;  for  him  the  great  sacrifice  was 
offered  on  Calvary,  in  virtue  of  whicli  he  is  alone  entitled 
to  lift  up  his  head,  and  to  rejoice  in  a  sense  of  sins  forgiven. 
And  as  he  lives  from  day  to  day,  his  un worthiness  and  guilt 
render  fresh  acts  of  mercy  necessary  for  his  safety.     Is  it 
for  one,  who  participates  so  largely  of  the  mercy  of  Heaven, 
to  be  unmindful  of  the  wants  and  woes  of  his  fellows? 
Where,  then,  is  reason ;  where  is  gratitude ;  whore  the  small- 
est sense  of  his  infinite  and  eternal  obligations  ?     Can  he  be 
indifferent  to  the  miseries  of  others,  when  his  own  have 
awakened  attention  in  the  world  above,  and  on  him  Heaven 
has  poured  the  choicest  stores  of  mercy  ?     Surely,  it  must 
be  instantly  seen,  that  "  bowels  of  mercies,  kindness,  hum- 
bleness of  mind,  meekness,  and  long-suffering,"  ought  to 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


253 


characterize  the  professor  of  the  gospel.  Living  himself 
upon  mercy,  mercy  ought  to  be  the  prominent  attribute 
of  his  character,  the  guide  of  his  thoughts,  the  director  of 
his  path,  the  steward  of  all  his  goods.  Among  the  several 
offices  of  Christian  duty,  the  performance  or  the  neglect  of 
which  is  represented  by  our  Lord  as  influencing  the  sen- 
tence to  be  passed  upon  each  of  us  at  the  last  day,  a  pro- 
minent place  is  assigned  to  attention  to  the  wants  and 
sufferings  of  the  afflicted.  "  I  was  an  hungered,  and  ye 
gave  me  meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  drink  :  I 
was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in :  naked,  and  ye  clothed 
me  :  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me  :  I  w^as  in  prison,  and 
ye  came  unto  me."  Further,  what  noble  examples  are 
placed  before  us  to  engage  our  imitation  !  Paul  could  say, 
"  Who  is  weak,  and  I  am  not  weak  ?  Who  is  offended, 
and  I  burn  not  ?"  Moses  chose  "  rather  to  suffer  afflic- 
tion with  the  people  of  God,  than  to  enjoy  the  pleasures  of 
sin  for  a  season ;"  and  David  could  say,  even  of  those  who 
rewarded  him  evil  for  good,  "  When  they  were  sick,  my 
clothing  was-  sackcloth :  I  humbled  myself  with  fasting : 
I  behaved  myself  as  though  he  had  been  my  friend  or 
brother  :  I  bowed  down  heavily  as  one  that  mourneth  for 
his  mother."  How  beautiful  was  the  sympathy  which  was 
expressed  to  Job  at  the  close  of  his  captivity !  "  Then  came 
to  him  all  his  brethren,  and  all  his  sisters,  and  all  they  who 
had  been  of  his  acquaintance  before,  and  did  eat  bread  with 
him  in  bis  house ;  and  they  bemoaned  him,  and  comforted 
him  for  all  the  evil  that  God  had  brought  upon  him:  every 
man  also  gave  him  a  piece  of  money,  and  every  one  an 
ear-ring  of  gold."  Think  too  of  the  example  of  Him  who 
bore  our  griefs  and  carried  our  sorrows  ;  in  whom  every 
mourner  saw  the  meltings  of  pity,  and  the  kindness  of 
friendship.  Benevolence  was  the  garb  in  which  all  his 
other  virtues  were  arrayed,  the  soft  lustre  with  which  they 
were  surrounded  and  adorned.    His  miracles  w^ere  miracles 


254 


ON  VISITING   THE  AFFLICTED. 


ON   VISITING   THE  AFFLICTED. 


255 


of  mercy  and  kindness.  He  went  about  doing  good.  Love 
to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  men  glowed  in  the  whole  of  his 
words,  and  thoughts,  and  conduct.  He  had  compassion 
on  the  multitude,  who,  if  he  had  dismissed  them  fasting, 
would  have  fainted  by  the  way.  He  healed  the  body,  while 
he  instructed  the  soul.  He  opened  the  eyes  of  the  blind, 
and  bade  the  lame  rise  up  and  walk.  He  pitied  the  desti- 
tution of  Martha  and  Mary,  and  raised  their  brother  from 
the  tomb.  He  compassionated  the  widow  in  her  affliction, 
and  gave  back  her  son  to  her  embrace.  Man  in  misery 
was  a  spectacle  which  he  could  never  behold  unmoved ; 
and  to  behold  it,  and  to  relieve  it,  was  the  object  of  his 
embassy  to  earth,  and  of  his  residence  among  us.  By 
example,  therefore,  as  well  as  by  precept,  he  hath  taught 
lis  to  visit  and  comfort  the  afflicted.  By  this  we  obtain  a 
near  resemblance  to  the  divine  Being.  Christians  are  en- 
joined to  be  merciful  as  their  Father  in  heaven  is  merciful; 
to  imitate  that  God  who  is  a  strength  to  the  needy  in  their 
distress.  He  is  called,  "the  Father  of  mercies,"  an  ex- 
pression which  strikingly  intimates  the  mercifulness  of  his 
nature  ;  and,  therefore,  an  apostle,  in  calling  upon  Chris- 
tians to  be  followers,  or  imitators,  of  God,  as  dear  children, 
wisely  intersperses  his  remarks  with  an  exhortation  to 
mutual  love,  and  kindness,  and  forbearance.  Various  are 
the  cases  of  distress  which  call  for  the  exercise  of  Chris- 
tian commiseration.  We  see  our  brethren  bending  as  they 
travel  along,  but  every  one  stoops  under  the  pressure  of  a 
diflferent  burden.  One  complains  of  unkindness,  another 
of  desertion  and  injury.  One  is  oppressed  with  care, 
another  is  stung  with  disappointment.  The  heart  of  some 
is  wounded,  of  others  the  conscience.  With  some  the 
body  is  sick,  with  others  the  mind.  Diflferent  diseases 
require  diflf*erent  treatment ;  and,  under  a  general  obligation 
to  aid  the  distressed,  our  assistance  ought  to  vary  with  the 
nature  of  the  burden  they  sustain. 


In  ministering  to  their  distress  you  may  do  much  for 
the  mind.    Is  the  sufferer  destitute  of  religion  t    The  season 
is  favorable  for  impressing  upon  the  heart  the  great  truths 
of  salvation,  and  for  awakening  and  strengthening  reUgious 
impressions.     The  hours  of  grief  and  misfortune  are  often 
the  hours  of  patience.     These  are  messengers  sent  of 
God  to  the  soul ;  and  the  result  may  be  to  carry  home  to 
the  heart  that  message   which  in  more  prosperous  and 
ioyous  seasons  has  been  blindly  disregarded.     Now  the 
heart  is  made  soft,  and  the  ear  which  had  despised  reproof 
is  open  to  instruction.     Of  such  a  season,  therefore,  the 
Christian  ought  to  avail  himself,  that  he  may  impart  spiritual 
relief      It  is  for  those  who  are  thoughtless  about  their  own 
souls  to  confine  their  mercy  to  the  temporal  condition  ot 
others  ;  but  the  man  whose  eye  has  been  fixed  upon  the 
immortal  part  of  our  nature,  and  who  beholds  it  m  the  light 
which  revelation  pours  upon  it,  will  make  all  his  attempts 
,0  benefit  the  earthly  and  perishing  part  subservient  to  his 
endeavors  to  restore,  as  an  instrument,  spiritual  life  and 
health  to  the  undying  principle.    While,  therefore  you  sit 
by  the  side  of  the  sick  bed,  and  wipe  the  tear  of  sorrow 
from  the  eye  of  the  sufferer,  labor  to  turn  his  mind  inward 
upon  itself,  that  he  may  perceive  his  guilt  and  pollution,  and 
that,  excited  by  the  discovery,  he  may  appreciate  and  wel- 
come the  Saviour  who  is  disclosed  to  us  in  the  Scriptures. 
Or   if  his  conscience  smite,  and  his  wounded  spirit  per- 
ceives a  connection  between  his  guilt  and  his  suffering, 
then  be  yours  the  pleasing  task  to  substitute  hope  for  de- 
spondency, peace  for  alarm.    Tell  him  of  a  Saviour  for  the 
chief  of  sinners ;  tell  him  of  a  blood  that  cleanseth  from  all 
unrighteousness ;  tell  him  of  a  grace  efficacious  and  power- 
ful as  it  is  free ;  tell  him  of  a  Father  more  willing  to  re- 
ceive the  returning  prodigal  than  the  prodigal  himself  is  to 
return      But  is  the  sufferer  a  Christian  1     Still  you  may  do 
much  for  his  mind,  by  dissipating  his  doubts,  removmg  his 


4 


256 


ON   VISITING   THE  AFFLICTED. 


fears,  and  bringing  him  comfort  in  his  spiritual  distresses. 
Thus  Jonathan  went  to  David  in  the  wood,  and  strength- 
ened  his  hands  in  God.  A  Christian  is  self-suspicious, 
and  is  afraid  of  every  conclusion  in  his  own  favor  drawn 
by  himself.  He  sees  not  the  consolation  to  which  he  is 
entitled,  though  so  near  to  him  ;  but  another,  like  the  angel 
sent  to  Hagar  in  the  wilderness,  may  open  his  eyes,  and 
show  him  the  well.  Sometimes  he  is  cast  down,  supposing 
that  what  he  experiences  is  pecuhar  to  himself,  that  none 
were  ever  exercised  as  he  is ;  but  you  can  relieve  him,  by 
referring  him  to  the  experience  of  others,  or  by  opening 
your  own,  and  thus  giving  him  to  see  that  no  temptations 
have  overtaken  him  but  such  as  are  common  to  men. 
There  is,  also,  another  important  case.  An  apostle  refers 
to  it  when  he  says, "  Brethren,  if  a  man  be  overtaken  with 
a  fault,  ye  which  are  spiritual  restore  such  a  one,  in  the 
spirit  of  meekness,  considering  thyself,  lest  thou  also  be 
tempted." 

You  may  do  much  for  the  body.  You  cannot  perform 
miracles  like  the  Saviour;  but  you  may  be  useful,  by 
procuring  medical  aid,  and  by  personal  attendance  and 
succor.  Where  the  malady  cannot  be  removed,  it  may  be 
alleviated.  You  may  sympathize  with  the  sufi'erer  in  his 
distress,  and  weep  with  him  when  he  weeps  ;  you  may 
suggest  to  him  those  consolations  that  may  reconcile  him 
to  his  lot ;  you  may  teach  him  to  improve  the  dispensations 
of  Heaven  by  faith  and  trust,  by  patience,  humility,  and 
deadness  to  the  world ;  you  may  open  to  him  those  abun- 
dant sources  of  consolation  which  the  word  of  God  supplies 
in  its  promises  and  in  its  prospects  ;  and  especially  you 
may  direct  his  views  beyond  this  vale  of  tears  to  that 
happy  land,  where  the  saints  of  God,  delivered  from  tri- 
bulation, "  shall  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  ; 
neither  shall  the  sun  light  on  them,  nor  any  heat.  For 
the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed 


ON    VISITING    THE    AFFLICTED. 


257 


them,  and  shall  lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters, 
and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears  from  their  eyes."  Is  it 
nothing  to  the  patient  that  you  visit  him  in  his  affliction ; 
that  he  sees  you  at  the  side  of  the  bed  of  languishing ;  that 
he  receives  from  you  the  look  of  sympathy  and  kindness, 
the  soothing  expression,  the  word  of  counsel  and  of  comfort ; 
that  by  your  tears  and  prayers  you  are  answering  to  the 
address,  "  Pity  me,  pity  me,  O  ye  my  friends !  for  the 
hand  of  God  hath  touched  me  ?" 

The  estate  of  the  afflicted  may  require  assistance,  and 
is  to  be  relieved  according  to  our  ability.  To  deal  our 
bread  to  the  hungry,  to  relieve  the  oppressed,  to  provide  a 
shelter  for  the  homeless,  to  assist  the  unfortunate  in  their 
attempts,  to  support  their  families,  are  the  deeds  of  sym- 
pathy which  prove  it  to  be  genuine,  and  without  which  its 
profession  is  mere  pretence.  How  just,  how  forcible,  is 
the  interrogation  of  the  apostle,  "  Whoso  hath  this  world's 
good,  and  seeth  his  brother  have  need,  and  shutteth  up  his 
bowels  of  compassion  from  him,  how  dwelleth  the  love  of 
God  in  him  ?"  Nothing  can  be  more  absurd  than  profes- 
sions of  love  and  good-will  when  they  are  not  supported  by 
exertions  to  relieve  those  whom  we  profess  to  pity.  A 
Christian's  charity  is  a  principle  that  prompts  him  to  activity 
and  diligence  in  seeking  redress  for  the  miserable  ;  a  prin- 
ciple fertile  in  its  contrivances,  and  resolute  in  its  executions. 
It  enlarges  his  own  means  of  beneficence  by  making  him  a 
suppliant  to  the  more  wealthy  in  behalf  of  the  poor.  It 
abridges  his  own  enjoyments  for  the  sake  of  multiplying 
his  means  of  usefulness,  and  incites  to  exertion  for  the 
same  purpose.  So  powerfully  did  this  holy  passion  operate 
in  the  first  ages  of  the  church,  that  many  of  the  rich  Chris- 
tians sold  their  estates,  and  shared  their  affluence  with  the 
poor.  What  rendered  this  act  the  more  remarkable  was,  that 
it  was  purely  voluntary.  It  is  not  our  duty  any  more  than 
it  was  theirs  to  go  this  length;  still,  however,  it  is  evident 


258 


ON  VISITING  THE  AFFLICTED. 


from  general  principles,  as  well  as  from  particular  precepts 
that  we  ought  to  do  everything  in  our  power  in  behalf  of 
the  distressed.  "  If  there  be  among  you  a  poor  man  of  one 
of  thy  brethren,  within  any  of  thy  gates,  thou  shall  not 
harden  thy  heart,  nor  shut  thine  hand  from  thy  poor  brother ; 
but  thou  Shalt  open  thine  hand  wide  unto  him,  and  shall 
surely  lend  him  sufficient  for  his  need  in  that  which  he 
wanleth.  Thou  shall  surely  give  him,  and  thy  heart  shall 
not  be  grieved  when  thou  givest." 

Say  not,  that  there  are  many  to  whom  you  cannot  thus 
render  your  assistance,  for  they  have  brought  their  ca- 
lamities upon  themselves.     It  ought  to  be  considered  that 
all  our  miseries  are  the  results  of  sin,  and  that  the  best  of 
men  cannot  assert  in  the  evil  day  that  they  are  guiltless 
It  may  be  the  design  of  Heaven,  by  what  you  rashly  caU 
the  judgments  of  God,  to  bring  them  to  repentance  ;  and 
by  the  visit  of  mcrcy-the  word  in  season-the  expression 
of  sympalhy-you  may  promote  that  design,  and  become 
instrumental  in  converting  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his 
ways.     Compassion  for  the  sinner  is  quite  reconcilable 
with  abhorrence  of  his  crimes,  and  your  solicitude  that 
their  correction  may  yield  "  the  peaceable  fruits  of  righte- 
ousness," may  dispose  to  serious  thought  and  feeling  those 
whom  coldness  and  harshness  would  have  made  utterly 
obdurate.     Say  not  again,  that  among  those  who   suffer 
there  are  some  who  have  most  unjustly  and  unwarrantably 
proved  themselves  your  enemies  ;  for  even  in  this  case  the 
aospel  allows  not  the  suppression  of  Christian  charity.    It 
Ts  one,  indeed,  which  supplies  a  fair  test  of  principle. 
Nature  may  prompt  us  to  relieve  those  who  have  never 
offended  us,  but  grace  only  triumphs  over  all  the  senti- 
ments of  revenge,  and  makes  us  fly  to  the  relief  of  a  fallen 
foe      It  is  thus  we  take  for  our  model  the  divine  conduct, 
and  adopt  that   method  of  subduing  enmity,  which  was 
unknown  to  the  world  until  Christ  taught  it  by  his  doc 


ON  VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


259 


trine,  and  exemplified  it  by  his  conduct.  "  Ye  have  heard 
that  it  hath  been  said,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  and 
hate  thine  enemy  ;  but  I  say  unto  you.  Love  your  enemies, 
bless  them  that  curse  you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you, 
and  pray  for  them  that  despitefuUy  use  you  and  persecute 
you,  that  you  may  be  the  children  of  your  Father  vi^hich  is 
in  heaven."  The  same  sentiments  are  taught  by  the 
apostle :  "  Recompense  to  no  man  evil  for  evil."  "  Dearly 
beloved,  avenge  not  yourselves,  but  rather  give  place 
unto  wrath ;  for  it  is  wrritten,  Vengeance  is  mine ;  I  will 
repay,  saith  the  Lord.  Therefore,  if  thine  enemy  hunger, 
feed  him  ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink  ;  for  in  so  doing 
thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head.  Be  not  overcome 
of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with  good." 

Various  are  the  motives  which  urge  us  to  the  perform- 
ance of  this  important  branch  of  Christian  duty  arising 
from  the  consideration  of  our  own  personal  advantage,  and 
which  serve  to  show  that  we  benefit  ourselves  in  the  same 
proportion  that  we  endeavor  to  aid  the  needy  in  their 
distress. 

Hereby  we  minister  to  our  own  enjoyment.  We  read  of 
the  luxury  of  doing  good.  The  very  act  of  kindness  is 
accompanied  with  the  most  refined  complacency.  "  The 
good  man,"  says  Solomon,  "  shall  be  satisfied  from  him- 
self." He  refers  not  to  the  pride  of  self-flattery,  but  to  the 
testimony  of  a  good  conscience.  The  pleasures  resulting 
from  Christian  kindness  and  benevolence  are  of  a  nature 
peculiarly  refined  and  exalted,  because  they  spring  from  a 
consciousness  of  well-doing.  Self-satisfaction,  without 
having  the  moral  sense  exercised  to  discern  between  good 
and  evil,  is  an  unenviable  and  despicable  enjoyment.  If 
we  feel  and  think  with  any  degree  of  justness  respecting 
right  and  wrong,  every  sinful  pursuit  and  pleasure  must  be 
mixed  with  disapprobation  and  painful  apprehension.  On 
the  contrary,  the  due  exercise  of  our  moral  powers  sup- 


260 


ON   VISITING   THE  AFFLICTED. 


poses  a  regularity  and  subordination  in  all  the  parts  of  our 
spiritual  constitution,  which,  in  the  nature  of  things,  is 
inseparable  from  enjoyment.  In  this,  indeed,  all  proper 
mental  enjoyment  consists.  If  it  is  pleasing  to  observe 
the  order  and  harmony  which  pervade  all  the  operations 
of  the  natural  world,  much  more  to  perceive  in  ourselves 
the  existence  of  a  moral  harmony  regidating  all  our  affairs, 
and  directing  them  to  their  proper  objects.  In  ministering 
to  the  afflicted,  for  example,  how  can  any  unpleasing  sen- 
sation arise  in  the  mind,  when  every  disposition  excited 
is  marked  with  gentleness,  amiablcness,  and  kindness,  and 
by  a  conformity  to  the  precepts  and  example  of  the  Re- 
deemer? It  is  an  evidence  that  we  have  not  believed  in 
vain,  and  that  we  have  been  renewed  in  the  image  of  our 
minds.  Many  seem  afraid  of  this  species  of  enjoyment, 
and  count  all  delight  but  that  of  faith  to  be  a  mere  effer- 
vescence of  self-righteousness,  which  only  produces  spi- 
ritual pride.  Why,  then,  has  our  Lord  pronounced  his 
sevenfold  beatitude  on  the  graces  of  a  renewed  mind  ? 
Why  has  he  so  solemnly  connected  happiness  with  holi- 
ness ?  The  angels  are  happy,  because  they  are  holy.  The 
felicity  of  heaven  is  the  perfection  of  holiness.  In  pro- 
portion, therefore,  as  we  give  up  ourselves  to  the  influence 
and  government  of  Christian  charity,  we  approach  to  the 
felicity  of  the  heavenly  world.  This  happiness  is  enhanced 
by  the  good  we  are  instrumental  in  effecting.  The  sensi- 
bility which  causes  us  to  sympathize  with  the  sorrows  of 
the  afflicted,  renders  us  equally  susceptible  of  their  joys  ; 
and  how  delightful  the  pleasures  which  we  thus  receive ! 
Sweet  is  the  opening  of  spring  ;  to  mark  the  sterile  winter 
putting  forth  the  promise  of  fruitfulness — the  cheerless 
trees  mantling  themselves  with  foliage — the  herbage  shoot- 
ing out  its  tender  blade — the  flower  opening  its  beauties — 
and  the  birds  resuming  their  sprightliness  and  song ;  but 
how  inferior   such   pleasures  when   compared  with  that 


"f 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


261 


which  arises  from  the  contemplation  of  a  withered  family 
reviving — the  glow  of  health  returning  on  the  emaciated 
cheek — peace  and  joy  lighting  up  the  eye  which  had  been 
overcast  with  gloom  and  despondency — and  vivacity  ani- 
mating the  tongue  that  had  long  uttered  only  dejection 
and  mourning ;  and  how  much  is  the  pleasure  increased 
when  we  can  reflect,  that,  instrumentally,  it  is  our  own  work ; 
and  when  the  tearful  eye  is  turned  to  us  with  overflowing 
gratitude,  and  the  swelling  heart  pours  forth  a  tide  of 
thankfulness  on  account  of  our  work  of  faith  and  labor  of 
love !  This  affords  the  purest  and  liveliest  joy  that  can 
thrill  through  the  human  heart.  This  happiness  Job  has 
described  in  glowing  terms :  "  When  the  ear  heard  me, 
then  it  blessed  me  ;  and  when  the  eye  saw  me,  it  gave 
witness  to  me  ;  because  I  delivered  the  poor  and  fatherless, 
and  him  that  had  none  to  help  him.  The  blessing  of  him 
that  was  ready  to  perish  came  upon  me,  and  I  caused  the 
widow's  heart  to  sing  with  joy." 

It  will  secure  for  us  suitable  sympathy  in  the  day  of  ca- 
lamity. The  vicissitudes  of  life  forbid  any  man  from 
concluding,  whatever  be  his  present  circumstances,  that 
he  shall  never  stand  in  need  of  the  help  of  others.  What 
though,  like  Job,  he  wash  his  steps  in  buttef,  and  the  rocks 
pour  him  out  rivers  of  oil ;  yet,  like  him,  he  may  be  the 
subject  of  those  ruinous  disasters  which  no  shrewdness 
can  foresee,  and  against  which  no  vigilance  can  provide. 
Let  us  suppose,  however,  that  he  has  been  kind  and  be- 
nevolent in  the  days  of  his  prosperity— that  he  has  dealt 
his  bread  to  the  hungry,  ministered  to  the  sick,  visited  the 
fatherless  and  widow  in  their  affliction,  and  that  along 
with  temporal  blessings  he  has  dispensed  the  higher  bless- 
ings of  the  gospel,  pouring  out  with  every  sacrifice  of 
benevolence  the  "  wine  of  the  kingdom ;"  will  not  the 
kindness  he  has  shown  to  others  be  a  loadstone  to  attract 
their  hearts  to  him  ?  and  will  he  not  receive  back,  in  a  full 


\\ 


262 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


tide,  the  streams  of  consolation  which  had  ebbed  from  his 
own  heart,  to  fill  the  empty  channels  of  his  neighbors  hap- 
piness ?  Who  can  be  unkind  to  him  who  has  been  kind  to 
all  ?  What  heart  so  cruel  as  to  refuse  to  sympathize  with 
him,  who,  like  his  divine  Master,  has  gone  about  doing 
good  ?  For  him  the  face  of  pity  will  exhibit  its  softest 
expression,  and  to  him  the  voice  of  love  will  utter  its 
sweetest  consolations.  Even  those  who  have  not  been 
befriended  by  him  will  be  touched  with  pity  for  him.  Such 
a  man  in  distress  interests  all  hearts  in  his  favor  ;  he  is 
a  vessel  foundering  which  had  been  employed  in  succor- 
ing and  rescuing  the  famished  and  the  drowning.  But 
should  it  so  occur  that  he  should  look  in  vain  for  some 
one  to  pity  and  relieve  him,  will  he  fail  to  receive  the 
more  ample  testimony  of  his  sympathy,  who  is  the  "  God 
of  all  comfort  ?"  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that  considereth 
the  poor,  the  Lord  will  deliver  him  in  the  day  of  trouble." 
"  Consider  the  poor,  and  the  Lord  will  strengthen  thee  on 
thy  bed  of  languishing."  "  When  thou  seest  the  naked, 
cover  him ;  hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own  flesh  ;  then 
shall  thy  light  break  forth  as  the  morning,  and  thy  health 
shall  spring  forth  speedily,  and  thy  righteousness  shall 
go  before  thee*;  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  thy 
rereward." 

It  will  contribute  to  your  spiritual  instruction  and  im^ 
provement.  "  It  is  better,"  says  the  wise  man,  "  to  go  to 
the  house  of  mourning,  than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feasting; 
for  by  the  sadness  of  the  countenance  the  heart  is  made 
better."  He  does  not  represent  sorrow  as  a  state  more 
eligible  than  joy ;  he  considers  the  sadness  which  is  in- 
duced by  the  contemplation  of  scenes  of  aflliction  in  the 
light  of  discipline  only.  He  views  it  with  reference  to 
an  end.  He  compares  it  with  certain  improvements  which 
ho  supposes  it  to  produce,  and  which  he  regards  as  far 
outweighing  in  value  every  fleeting  sensation  of  joy.     It 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


263 


contributes  to  our  improvement  by  the  impressive  views 
we  derive  from  scenes  of  aflliction. 

They  teach  us  the  evil  of  sin.  In  a  world  where  tempta- 
tions to  sin  so  extensively  abound — where  every  situation, 
and  object,  and  relation,  hides  innumerable  dangers,  we 
cannot  have  too  deep  an  impression  of  its  evil  nature,  and 
fearful  consequences.  In  proportion  as  our  minds  are  af- 
fected by  the  consideration  of  its  exceeding  sinfulness,  and 
of  the  calamitous  effects  it  has  produced,  and  which  are, 
after  all,  only  a  presage  of  the  still  greater  woes  that  await 
the  impenitent  in  the  world  to  come,  we  shall  be  induced 
to  view  it  with  abhorrence,  and  to  watch  against  its  tempta- 
tions. And  what  so  likely  to  excite  such  considerations 
as  the  dwelling  of  aflliction  ?  O,  is  it  possible  to  enter  the 
house  of  mourning ;  to  take  our  station  at  the  bedside  of 
the  sick  and  dying, 

"  That  post  of  observation,  darker  every  hour;" 

to  behold  all  the  solemn  apparatus  of  death, — the  darkened 
room — the  whispering  attendants — the  weeping  friends — 
the  thrilling  pains,  which  medicine  cannot  alleviate — the 
shortened  breath — the  struggle  for  life — the  glazed  eye — 
and  at  length  the  lifeless  corpse,  and  to  reflect  as  we  sur- 
vey the  scene,  all  this  is  the  work  of  sin !  such  are  the 
miseries  it  has  entailed  !  and  not  execrate  an  evil  which 
has  occasioned  so  much  misery,  nor  resolve  to  pluck  up 
the  root  of  bitterness  ! 

They  teach  us  the  vanity  of  the  world.  The  world  is 
ever  an  ensnaring  object  to  a  Christian,  and  the  danger 
increases  in  proportion  as  he  is  indulged  with  prosperity 
and  ease.  When  his  life  continues  to  flow  on  in  one 
smooth  current,  unruffled  by  any  calamity ;  when,  happy  in 
himself,  he  sees  nothing  but  what  is  agreeable  around  him  ; 
how  liable  is  he  to  forget  that  this  is  not  his  rest,  that  he 
is  only  "  a  stranger  and  a  sojourner ;"  and  how  soon  does 


264 


ON  VISITING  THE  AFFLICTED. 


his  heart  begin  to  cleave  to  the  dust !  What  then  so  likely 
to  contribute  to  his  security,  as  frequent  visits  to  the  house 
of  mourning  ?  When  some  affecting  scene  of  misery  pre- 
sents a  strong  discovery  of  the  deceitfulness  of  earthly  joy, 
and  rouses  our  sensibility  of  earthly  wo ;  when  we  see 
some  who  were  once  prosperous  and  happy,  sunk  by  un- 
expected calamities  into  poverty  and  distress  ;  or  when  in 
sad  silence  we  stand  bv  the  friend  whom  we  had  loved 
as  our  own  soul,  and  see  him  stretched  on  the  bed  of  death, 
then  the  world  begins  to  appear  in  a  new  light ;  its  insta- 
bility and  vanity  impress  themselves  with  irresistible  con- 
viction upon  our  minds  ;  we  are  led  to  feel  by  what  a  frail 
tenure  we  hold  our  possessions  here  ;  our  desires  and  ex- 
pectations of  earthly  bliss  are  restrained  and  modified ; 
and  we  are  taught  to  "  rejoice  as  though  we  rejoiced  not  ;** 
and  to  "  weep  as  though  we  wept  not ;"  that  is,  neither  in 
grief,  nor  in  joy,  to  run  to  excess,  but  to  use  the  world  so 
as  not  to  abuse  it, "  knowing  that  the  fashion  thereof  passeth 
away." 

They  admonish  us  of  the  value  of  time.  It  was  an  excel- 
lent prayer  of  Moses,  "  So  teach  us  to  number  our  days, 
that  we  may  apply  our  hearts  unto  wisdom."  A  Christian 
cannot  be  unmindful  of  this  exercise  ;  but  even  he  is  apt 
to  err  in  his  calculations — to  be  too  sanguine  and  confident 
in  his  expectations  of  years  to  come — to  live  too  much  on 
the  future — to  rely  upon  to-morrow  as  a  matter  of  course  ; 
and  in  the  same  degree  in  which  he  does  this,  he  becomes 
disposed  to  defer  the  work  of  to-day  to  some  "  more  con- 
venient season  ;"  to  be  remiss  and  negligent  in  improving 
present  opportunities,  and  in  securing  a  preparation  for  a 
dying  hour.  How  useful  in  correcting  this  error  is  a  fre- 
quent visitation  of  the  afl^licted  !  It  is  while  contemplating 
the  premature  death  of  some,  and  the  sudden  and  calamitous 
death  of  others,  the  awfuluess  of  afl^liction  when  discon- 
nected from  piety,  and  the  difficulty  of  acquiring  religion 


ilMki 


iiiOHIriii. 


viiMftmtjitiL, 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFFLICTED. 


265 


when  disease  and  pain  oppress  the  body  and  distract  the 
mind,  that  he  is  made  to  feel  the  full  impression  of  the 
inspired  admonition,  "  Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow,  for 
thou  knowest  not  what  a  day  may  bring  forth." 

They  present  us  with  affecting  examples  of  the  sufficiency 
of  divine  grace.     A  Christian  who  is  weak  in  faith  usually 
shrinks  from  the  prospect  of  trials.     When  afflictions  of 
more  than  ordinary  magnitude  gather  around  his  path,  he 
is  filled  with  anxious  fears  for  his  safety ;  his  mind  becomes 
distressed  with  gloomy  forebodings.     What  more  likely  to 
strengthen  the  faith  of  such  a  one,  and  to  prepare  him  for 
personal  suffering,  than  to  visit  the  abode  of  afflicted  piety, 
and  to  contemplate  the  triumphs  of  divine  grace  1     O,  how 
often  when  the  fearful  Christian  has  met,  in  his  rounds  of 
mercy,  with  some  pious  individual  exemplifying  the  spirit 
and  resources  of  Christianity  under  bodily  disease,  and  the 
losses,  bereavements,  and  disappointments  of  life ;  when 
he  has  found  him  witness  for  God,  standing  in  the  evil  day 
like  a  rock  with  sunshine  on  its  brow,  while  the  billows 
dash  against  its  base  ;  when  he  has  observed  him  full  of 
peace  In  Christ,  while   full  of  tribulation  in  the  world : 
mourning  more  for  his  sins  than  for  his  afflictions  ;  more 
concerned  to  have  his  crosses  sanctified  than  removed ; 
smiling  even  in  tears ;  holding  fast,  amid  the  pressure  of 
multiplied  calamities,  his  confidence  and  hope  ;  at  those 
times  he  has  felt  ashamed  of  his  former  fears,  and  with 
his  heart  inspired  with  a  conviction  of  the  faithfulness  of 
God,  and  of  the  sufficiency  of  his  grace  for  all  the  exigen- 
cies of  his  people,  he  has  dismissed  every  fear,  and  has 
thanked  God,  and  taken  courage. 

Finally,  would  you  he  accepted  and  approved  of  God  at 
the  last  and  great  day,  then  he  merciful  and  compassionate 
to  the  utmost  of  your  power.  If  we  have  laid  ourselves  out 
for  usefulness,  and  spared  of  our  abundance,  but  still  more 
of  our  necessities,  we  have  laid  up  for  ourselves  a  good 

12 


266 


ox   VISITIXG    THF   AFFLICTED. 


foundation  for  the  time  to  come.  "  The  Lord  give  mercy," 
says  Paul,  "to  the  house  of  Onesiphorus,  for  he  oft  refresh- 
ed me,  and  was  not  ashamed  of  my  chain ;  the  Lord  grant 
that  he  may  find  mercy  of  the  Lord  in  that  day."  Yes, 
the  muhitude  shall  obtain  mercy  in  that  day  when  the 
value  of  it  will  be  universally  known  and  appreciated. 
Wo  to  those  in  that  day,  who,  though  they  laid  claim  to  a 
Christian  character,  evinced  an  unfeeling  heart,  and  were 
deaf  to  the  complaints  of  the  poor  and  needy !  They  will 
then  lind  themselves  placed  on  "  the  left  hand  of  the  Judge ;" 
and  he  shall  say  unto  them,  "  I  was  hungry,  and  ye  gave 
me  no  meat ;  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave  me  no  drink  ;  I 
was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  not  in  ;  naked,  and  ye 
clothed  me  not ;  sick,  and  in  prison,  and  ye  visited  me  not.'' 
Vengeance  will  glare  on  them  from  the  throne  of  judgment, 
debarring  all  access  to  the  mercy-seat;  and  inexorable 
justice,  as  it  pronounces  their  fearful  doom,  will  chase 
them  from  the  limits  of  God's  happy  dominions,  and  pur- 
sue them  to  the  dwelling  of  misery  and  everlasting  despair. 
The  practical  benevolence,  however,  which  has  been  the 
result  of  evangelical  piety,  shall  then  be  brought  out  to 
notice,  and  recounted.  Yea,  those  whose  love  to  God  has 
been  displayed  in  acts  of  sympathy,  and  kindness,  and 
charity  to  men,  shall  be  singled  out  by  the  Judge,  and 
placed  before  the  eye  of  the  universe,  as  the  objects  of  God's 
gracious  and  complacential  regard.  Then  shall  he  recount 
their  acts  of  devotedness  to  himself,  shall  publish  their 
character,  and  proclaim  his  approbation  :  "  Inasmuch  as  ye 
did  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  did  it 
unto  me."  In  this  sentence  all  holy  beings  will  acquiesce 
and  rejoice.  With  what  congratulations  will  the  saints  be 
accompanied  in  their  ascent  to  heaven !  How  gratefully 
will  they  be  referred  to  by  those  whose  miseries,  while 
here,  they  helped  to  remove !  whose  ignorance  they  in- 
structed, whose  faith  they  assisted,  whose  fears  they  re- 


ON   VISITING   THE   AFiLICTED. 


267 


moved,  and  whose  salvation  they  promoted !     Then  shall 
they  become  as  the  angels  of  God,  and  rejoice  in  the  un- 
clouded and  unrestricted  manifestations  of  his  love  for 
ever  and  ever.     Endeavor  then  to  do  good  to  the  utmost 
of  your  power ;  to  crowd  into  the  narrow  sphere  of  hfe  all 
the  useful  services  possible.    Be  active,  be  zealous  ;  for  the 
time  is  short.     Let  your  love  appear  unto  all.     By  your 
words  of  kindness,  your  visits  of  mercy,  your  acts  of  bene- 
volence, and  self-denying  liberality,  let  it  be  seen  that  you 
are  the  servants  of  the  God  of  love,  the  followers  of  Him 
who  went  about  doing  good. 


268 


YOUTH    IN    AFFLICTION. 


YOUTH  IN  AFFLICTION. 

Ye  fair,  enchanting  throng, 

Ye  golden  dreams,  farewell, 
Earth  has  prevail'd  too  long, 
And  now  I  break  the  epell ; 
Ye  cherish'd  joys  of  early  years, 
Jesus,  forgive  these  parting  tears. 

IJiit  must  I  part  with  all  ? 

My  heart  still  fondly  pleads: 
Yes — Dagon's  self  must  fall ; 
It  beats,  it  throbs,  it  bleeds  : 
Is  there  no  balm  in  Gilead  found. 
To  soothe  and  heal  the  smarting  wound  ? 

O  yes !  there  is  a  balm, 

A  kind  Physician  there, 
My  fever'd  mind  to  calm, 
To  bid  me  not  despair ; 
And  now,  dear  Saviour,  set  me  free, 
And  I  will  all  resign  to  thee. 

"  WILT  THOU  NOT  FROM  THIS  TBfE  CRY  UNTO  ME,  MY  FATHER,  THOU 
ART  THE  GUIDE  OF  MY  YOUTH  !"— Jeremiah  iii,  4. 

At  every  period  of  life  sickness  is  painful,  and  death 
is  awful.  In  advanced  age,  however,  nature  teaches  us 
to  expect  them,  and  presents  us  with  a  thousand  premoni- 
tions of  that  affecting  catastrophe  by  which  "  the  earthly 
house  of  this  tabernacle  shall  be  dissolved."  .  In  youth  it 
is  otherwise.  This  is  the  season  of  health  and  vigor, 
when  the  spirits  are  buoyant  with  hope,  and  the  heart  is 
elate  with  fond  anticipations  of  the  future.  Whatever  be 
the  condition  of  the  young,  their  spirits  are  usually  lively 
and  cheerful,  and  throw  an  attractive  but  delusive  coloring 
over  surrounding  objects.  Impelled  by  desire,  they  rush 
forward  with  inconsiderate    ardor.     Prompt  to  decide — 


YOUTH   IN   AFFLICTION. 


269 


averse  to  hesitate  or  inquire— and  credulous,  because  un- 
taught by  experience  how  precarious  are  all  earthly  things, 
they  rely  upon  them  with  a  confidence  which  precludes  all 
suspicion  that  they  will  ever  give  way  ;  hence,  when  over- 
taken by  sickness  and  infirmity,  and  a  blight  spreads  itself 
over  the  field  of  their  hope,  withering  the  blossoms  which 
had  excited  so  many  pleasing  expectations,  a  disappoint- 
ment is  experienced  by  which  they  are  often  tempted  to 
complain,  and  to  regard  their  lot  as  one  of  peculiar  hard- 
ship.     The  case  is  rendered  still  more   alarming  when 
sickness  threatens  to  terminate  in  death;  when  the  king 
of  terrors  suddenly  presents  himself  before  one  who  has 
spent  the  giddy  hours  of  childhood  and  youth  without 
reflection  and  the  fear  of  God.     Is  it  any  wonder  that  he 
should  find  himself  alarmed  by  conscience,  agonized  by 
disappointment,  surrounded  by  difficulties,  and  overwhelm- 
ed by  the  prospect  of  eternal  misery  ?    Sufl-er  me,  my  young 
friend,  if  your  circumstances  are  in  any  respects  similar  to 
those  'l  have  just  supposed— suffer  me  to  attempt  to  re- 
concile your  mind  to  your  circumstances,  and  to  offer  the 
counsels  suited  to  your  condition. 

It  is  no  less  the  interest  than  the  duty  of  every  one  to 
endeavor  to  reconcile  his  mind  to  the  appointments  of  a 
wise  and  gracious  Providence.     The  cup  of  affliction  is, 
indeed,  in  all  circumstances,  unpalatable  to  human  nature, 
nor  is  it  to  be  denied  that  your  circumstances  are  peculiarly 
afflictive.     To  be  suddenly  arrested  by  calamity  in  the 
very  sunshine  of  your  existence— to  be  deprived  of  enjoy- 
ment—to be  subjected  to  severe  pains— and  to  be  compelled 
to  look  forward  to  a  premature  death,  may  well  excite  per- 
turbation of  spirit;  but  take  care  that  it  does  not  break 
forth  into  murmuring  and  rebellion  against  God,  or  induce 
you  to  turn  away  from  the  means  which  can  alone  afford 
you  relief.     Let  the  following  remarks   be   deliberately 
considered. 


270 


YOUTH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


Your  present  circumstances  are  not  singular.     This  con- 
sideration is  frequently  overlooked.     We  think  of  relatives 
and  acquaintances  who  are  strong  and  healthy,  and  whose 
youth  is  characterized  by  ease  and  enjoyment ;  but  we  do 
not  reflect  how  many  young  people  are  afflicted  as  much, 
or  perhaps  more,  than  we.     Look  around — how  many  may 
you  discover  whose  circumstances  are  equally  distressing 
with  your  own ;  and  think  how  many  more  there  are  with 
whose  cases  you  are  totally  unacquainted.     In  every  con- 
dition, and  in  every  period,  man  has  been  subject  to  these 
calamities.     This  is  a  weeping  world.     Sin  has  filled  it 
with  thorns  and  briers,  with  crosses  and  afllictions ;  and 
can  you  expect  to  travel  through  it  without  being  torn  and 
wounded,  or  exempt  from  disquietude  and  pain  ?     Shall 
providence  for  your  sake  reverse  its  established  order? 
Reflect,  too,  on  the  mortality  of  man.     It  is  computed  that 
nearly  thirty  millions  die  every  year ;  what  an  awful  re- 
tlection !    How  great  is  the  multitude  that  is  dayly  dropping 
into  eternity !    According  to  this  computation,  each  minute 
is  marked  by  the  death  of  fifty-six  human  beings.     How 
numerous,  therefore,  must  be  the  paths  that  lead  down  to 
the  grave  !    "All  flesh  is  grass  I"    The  grass  springe th  up ; 
it  is  beautiful   and  pleasant  to  the  view  ;   but  however 
luxuriant,   flourishing,   and  verdant  for  awhile,   the  wind 
passeth  over  it,  and  it  is  gone.     The  worm  destroys  its 
root ;  it  is  scorched  by  the  sun,  or  nipped  by  the  frost;  it 
falls  before  the  mower's  sythe,  or  yields  to  natural  decay. 
How  expressive  of  the  vanity  of  man  in  his  best  estate ! 
He  cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut  down.     In  ten 
thousand  nameless  ways  may  his  term  of  life  be  abridged. 
Disease,  and  accident,  and  injury,  beset  his  path.     The 
fluid  that  circulates  through  his  heart  is  impregnated  with 
the  seeds  of  death.     He  drops  into  the  grave  in  every  stage 
of  his  progress  through  his  earthly  pilgrimage.    He  knows 
not  what  a  day  or  an  hour  may  bring  forth.     Your  case, 


YOUTH  IN  AFFLICTION. 


271 


then,  presents  nothing  contrary  to  the  ordinary  experience 
of  mankind.     Perhaps  the  circumstance  of  your  youth 
may  to  you  furnish  an  exception  to  the  general  rule  ;  but 
when  death  approaches,  he  asks  not,  "How  old  art  thou?" 
He  extends  his  power  over  the  young  as  well  as  the  aged. 
Millions  of  the  young  die  yearly.     What  burial-ground  can 
you  visit  without  meeting  with  the  most  aflfecting  memorials 
of  the  vanity  of  youth  and  the  uncertainty  of  life  ?     There 
lie  many  who  trusted  in  youth,  and  looked  on  future  years 
as  their  own.     A  little  time  back,  and  they  were  eager 
in  the   pursuit  of  imaginary  happiness ;    the  world  was 
spread  before  them,  decked  with  gay  and  fascinating  colors ; 
their  hearts  were  big  with  life's  futurities :  but  they  are 
gone ;  they  are  moldered  back  to  dust ;  their  very  coffins 
are  decayed;  their  gayety  is  over;  their  joys  are  past; 
they  have  passed  into  the  world  of  spirits.     Prepared  or 
unprepared,  they  have  met  their  God ;  and  what  is  the 
world  to  them  now  ?     How  solemn  a  consideration  is  this 
to  all ;   and  how  necessary  to  be  well  weighed  by  the 
young !     Guard,  then,  against  the  folly  which  primarily 
was  dlily  satirically  applied  to  our  species,  yet  is  fairly 
imputable  to  general  conduct— the  folly  of  thinking  all  men 

mortal  but  ourselves. 

Your  present  circumstances  are  not  hard.  Guard  particu- 
larly against  the  thought  that  God  deals  severely  with  you. 
When  our  comforts  arc  removed,  our  hopes  disappointed, 
our  spirits  depressed,  and  our  pains  severe,  nature  is 
ever  ready  to  prompt  such  a  conclusion.  You  should  re- 
member the  prejudices  to  which  you  are  subject.  You 
can  see  that  in  your  own  circumstances  which  no  other 
person  can  see,  and  which  you  cannot  discover  m  the 
circumstances  of  others.  Do  you  think  it  hard  to  be  de- 
prived of  pleasures,  and  subjected  to  suff-ermg  in  early  lite  ? 
Remember,  that  those  pleasures,  however  much  they  may 
excite  the  desires  and  engage  the  attention  of  men,  are  not 


272 


YOUTH   IN   AFFLICTION. 


worth  a  thought.  The  pleasures  of  the  world  wear,  it  is 
true,  a  very  alluring  form  to  the  eye  of  youth ;  but,  if  you 
will  believe  the  testimony  of  those  who  have  enjoyed  them, 
they  are  deceitful  and  vain.  This  testimony  is  borne  not 
only  by  those  whose  minds  have  been  enlightened  and 
purified  by  religion,  but  by  those  who  still  wish  to  find 
happiness  in  earthly  things.  They  are  more  in  expecta- 
tion than  in  enjoyment.  They  have  never  satisfied  any, 
and  they  could  never  have  satisfied  you.  Even  were  we 
to  admit  that  these  pleasures  are  all  that  the  gay  heart  of 
youth  imagines,  yet  they  cannot  for  one  moment  be  com- 
pared to  those  which  result  from  the  favor  and  blessing 
of  God  ;  and  these  may  all  be  yours.  Religion  is  so  truly 
the  one  important  blessing,  that  it  can  supply  the  lack  of 
every  earthly  enjoyment,  while  all  earthly  blessings  united 
can  never  supply  its  wants.  Were  the  whole  world  your 
own,  it  could  neither  give  real  peace  in  life,  nor  support 
you  on  the  bed  of  death,  nor  obtain  for  you  a  place  in 
heaven.  But  all  this  you  may  find  in  religion.  Seek  after 
this.  Let  this  become  the  subject  of  your  supreme  con- 
cern, of  your  earnest  prayer,  and  of  your  diligent  j^rsuit; 
and  instead  of  being  deprived  of  enjoyment,  fountains  of 
living  water  will  open  to  your  view,  the  streams  of  which 
will  invigorate  and  comfort  you  through  every  vicissitude 
of  life,  till  you  shall  be  introduced  into  the  divine  presence, 
where  there  is  fullness  of  joy. 

But  perhaps  you  are  apprehensive  of  death,  and  you  think 
it  hard  to  die  so  soon.  But  why  would  you  live  here  lont^er? 
He  who  has  obtained  a  preparation  for  death  has  accom- 
plished the  great  purpose  of  living.  Why  should  you  live 
here  any  longer  ?  The  highest  enjoyments  of  this  world  are 
not  to  be  compared  with  the  humblest  glories  of  paradise. 
In  that  world  to  which  an  early  death  conducts  the  pious, 
there  are  pleasures  which  never  cloy,  treasures  which  fail 
not,  and  honors  which  never  fade  away.     There  no  dis- 


YOUTH    IN    AFFLICTION. 


273 


f 


'1 


content  murmurs,  and  no  sorrows  ever  weep.  There  no 
disappointment  is  ever  felt,  and  no  fears  arise.  Listen  to 
faith,  opposing  its  conclusions  to  all  the  boasts  of  the  carnal 
mind  :  I  reckon  that  neither  the  pleasures  nor  sufferings 
of  the  present  time  are  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the 
glory  that  is  to  be  revealed.  Why  would  you  live  here 
any  longer?  Those  who  die  in  middle  life  are  often 
harassed  in  their  last  hours  by  the  most  painful  anxieties 
about  the  state  of  their  worldly  affairs,  and  the  future  con- 
dition of  their  dependent  friends;  but  you  have  no  partner 
whose  heart  will  be  torn  with  anguish  by  your  death,  nor 
children  for  whose  sake  you  would  wish  to  live.  Why 
would  you  live  here  any  longer  ?  It  may  grieve  you  to 
part  with  your  friends ;  but  were  you  spared,  from  their 
more  advanced  life,  they  would  shortly  have  to  leave  you; 
yet  a  little  while,  and  they  will  rest  from  their  griefs  by 
your  side.  Why  would  you  live  here  any  longer?  Is  it 
that  you  may  glorify  God  ?  In  heaven  you  shall  serve 
him  day  and  night  in  his  temple,  without  one  languid  mo- 
ment, or  one  vain  thought,  and  in  the  midst  of  worshipers 
whose  hearts  are  burning  with  fervor  equal  "to  your  own. 
Or  is  it  that  you  may  advance  the  interests  of  religion  ? 
But  your  removal  shows  that  Providence  has  other  instru- 
ments than  you  to  employ  in  these  labors  of  lore.  Still, 
your  early  death,  adorned  by  the  graces  of  the  Spirit,  may 
have  more  influence  in  alluring  others  to  goodness  than 
your  after  exertions  could  have  had :  and  if  the  wish  and 
purpose  of  your  heart  to  do  good  be  sincere,  God  will  ac- 
cept of  them  as  if  carried  into  effect.  But  you  are  afraid 
of  death.  You  are  unfit  to  die.  Is  it  on  this  account  that 
your  present  circumstances  distress  you  ?  Flee,  then,  0 
flee  to  the  Saviour  who  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost. 
Repent,  and  turn  to  God  with  full  purpose  of  heart.  This 
dispensation  is  appointed  tci admonish  you,  and  to  urge  you 
to  prepare  to  meet  your  God.     How  much  harder  would 

12* 


274 


YOUTH   IN  AFFLICTION 


have  been  your  case  if  sudden  death  had  removed  you  in 
a  moment,  in  all  your  sin  and  guilt,  and  shut  you  up  in 
everlasting  misery  and  despair ! 

Your  present  circumstances  are  what  you  had  every  reason 
to  expect.     I  have  no  intention  of  charging  you  with  any 
particular  guilt ;  every  man  by  sin  has  forfeited  his  com- 
forts, his  health,  and  his  life.     What  you  have  enjoyed 
has  been  granted  of  mere  favor,  and  surely  from  mere  favor 
you  could  not  infer  a  continuance  of  favor.     If  you  are  a 
child  of  God,  you  expect  affliction  as  the  effect  of  God's 
particular  and  paternal  regard.     You  are  chastened  of  the 
Lord  that  you  may  not  be  condemned  of  the  world.     Our 
heavenly  Father  loves  his  children  too  dearly  to  withhold 
any  part  of  that  discipline  which  is  necessary  to  purge 
away  their  dross,  or  to  prepare  them  for  the  enjoyment  of 
celestial  bliss.     And  why  should   any  disciple   of  Jesus 
suppose  that  he  shall  escape  affliction  ?     Is  the  servant 
greater  than  his   Master,  and  shall  any  of  us  repine  to 
follow  in  his  steps  ?    yet  he  was  emphatically  a  man  of 
sorrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief.     Affliction  is  the  con- 
secrated path  that  conducts  to  heaven.     "  It   is  through 
much  tribulation  that  we  are  to  enter  the  kingdom."     If 
you  are  a  child  of  wrath,  as  a  creature  must  be   that  is 
living  in  the  neglect  of  God,  and  in  opposition  to  his  wiH, 
is  it  to  be  expected  that  you  should  go  on  with  impunity  ? 
Is  it  reasonable  that  a  creature  should  be  suffered  to  pro- 
ceed unchecked,  who  is  casting  off  his  allegiance  to  God, 
abusing  his  favors,  and  dishonoring  his  name  ?     Compare 
what  you  feel  with  what  you  deserve  ;  what  is,  with  what 
might  have  been.     Think  of  the  design  which  God  has  in 
view.    Every  afflictive  occurrence — every  pang  of  remorse 
— every  guilty  fear,  is  the  effect  of  that  mercy,  the  ulti- 
mate design  of  which  is  to  exchange  the  terrors  of  avenging 
justice  into  the  mild  and  gentle  accents  of  tender  com- 
passion and  free   forgiveness.     Instead  of  repining,  you 


YOUTH    IN    AFFLICTION. 


275 


have,  therefore,  abundant  reason  to  praise  God  that  he  has 
dealt  so  bountifully  with  you. 

Your  present  circumstances  are  capable  of  yielding  the 
greatest  possible  advantages.     How  often  have  afflictions 
of  body  contributed  to  the  salvation  of  the  soul !  and  ought 
not  that  to  be  hailed  as  the  greatest  mercy  which  is  the 
means  of  averting  so  fearful  a  catastrophe  as  the  destruction 
of  the  immortal  spirit,  or  which  is  productive  of  so  great 
a  benefit  as  the  possession  of  life  eternal  ?     Besides,  in 
pursuing  our  spiritual  career  we  are  sometimes  slow,  and 
need  to  be  quickened ;  we  are  sometimes  obstinate,  and 
pride  must  be  humbled  ;  we  are  sometimes  fastidious,  and 
our  taste  must  be   corrected ;  we  are  sometimes  forsretful 
of  what  we  have  been  taught,  and  our  memories  must  be 
refreshed.     How  is  all  this  to  be  effected,  but  by  appro- 
priate discipline,  such  as  that  which  God  is  now  employing? 
Your  affliction,  therefore,  may  be  the  mean  of  elevating 
your  soul  to  a  more  intimate  fellowship  with  God,  and 
though  for  the  present  grievous,  may  become  the  happy 
cause  of  promoting  that  peace  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing, that  "joy  which   is  unspeakable,   and  full  of 
glory."     Besides,   your  affliction   affords   you    the    finest 
opportunity  of  glorifying  God,  by  resignation  to  his  will, 
by  steadfast  reliance   on   his    faithfulness    and  truth,  by 
grateful,  loving  submission,  by  cheerful  serenity  and  peace. 
How  many  young  persons  have  suffered  to  the  glory  of 
God  !  out  of  their  mouths  God  has  perfected  praise.     The 
Christian  is  never  so  well  circumstanced  to  honor  God,  or 
to  render  religion  impressive,  as  "  in  the  fires  ;"  but,  if 
that  Christian  sufferer  be  a  youthful  one,  his  example  pos- 
sesses   tenfold   force.      The   rareness    of  the    spectacle 
renders  it  the  more  striking.     O,  to  see  a  young  person, 
when  in  affliction,  exhibiting  the  graces  of  patience  and 
resignation,  smiling  even  in  tears,  cherishing  a  grateful 
spirit,  and  enjoying  consolations  which  neither  pain  can 


276 


YOUTH   IN    AFFLICTION. 


destroy,  nor  death  fright  away,  is  a  convincing  proof  of 
what  the  grace  of  God  can  effect  in  the  human  character. 
Many  such  instances  we  have  on  record  :  strive  to  add 
one  more  to  the  number.  Then  shall  the  ignorant  come, 
and  be  instructed ;  the  careless  shall  come,  and  be  im- 
pressed ;  the  righteous  shall  come,  and  be  quickened ; 
your  mourning  friends  shall  come,  and  wipe  away  tho 
falling  tear ;  angels  shall  come,  and  rejoice  ;  Jesus  shall 
come,  and  take  you  to  himself,  that  where  he  is  there  you 
may  be  also. 

These  considerations,  and  others  that  may  occur,  will, 
I  hope,  avail  to  reconcile  you  to  your  affliction.  Aim  at  a 
cordial  approbation  of  the  divine  conduct.  Be  deeply 
concerned  that  you  may  have  one  will  with  God.  This  is 
all  for  which  you  ought  to  be  concerned.  It  is  not  neces- 
sary, either  to  your  safety  or  happiness,  that  you  should 
live.  It  is  necessary  to  both  that  you  should  have  one 
will  with  God.  Let  the  following  lines  be  engraven  upon 
your  heart ;  let  them  engage  your  thoughts  incessantly, 
till  you  can  breathe  them  out  before  the  throne  of  grace  as 
the  expression  of  sincere  and  fervent  desire  : — 


"  Silent  I  own  Jehovah's  name, 
I  kiss  the  scouring  hand, 
And  yield  my  comforts  and  my  life 
To  thy  supreme  command." 

To  promote  this  state  of  mind,  consider  the  importance 
of  personal  religion.  Make  it  the  subject  of  serious  and 
deliberate  thought.  Its  value  surpasses  all  calculation,  and 
can  be  estimated  only  by  the  value  of  the  soul,  the  dura- 
tion of  eternity,  the  happiness  of  heaven,  and  the  misery 
of  hell.  Salvation  is  the  great  end  of  life.  Get  what  you 
will,  if  you  get  not  this,  you  have  lost  the  purpose  of  your 
existence.  Were  you  to  realize  all  the  honor,  and  wealth, 
and  pleasure,  which  your  heart  could  desire,  or  that  the 


YOUTH    IN  AFFLICTION. 


277 


world  could  give,  still  if  you  lost  the  salvation  of  your  soul, 
you  would  have  lived  in  vain.  Life  would  be  a  lost  ad- 
venture, if  you  did  not  gain  religion.  On  the  other  hand, 
however  afflicted  in  your  body,  or  depressed  in  your  cir- 
cumstances, however  disappointed  in  your  hopes,  or  cut 
short  in  the  term  of  your  existence,  if  you  obtain  eternal 
life  through  faith  in  Christ  Jesus,  your  condition  is  infi- 
nitely to  be  preferred  to  that  of  him  who  lives  and  dies 
without  religion,  though  he  were  to  be  as  rich  as  Croesus, 
as  powerful  as  Alexander,  or  as  long-lived  as  Methuselah. 
We  attach  great  importance  to  our  possessions  and  com- 
forts upon  earth,  nor  are  they  destitute  of  interest  and 
value ;  but,  ah !  how  diminutive  are  all  earthly  things 
when  contrasted  with  those  which  are  eternal !  A  little 
longer,  and  the  world  will  be  to  you  as  though  it  had  never 
been  ;  unless,  indeed,  the  anguish  of  a  guilty  conscience 
should  perpetuate  the  remembrance  of  mercies  abused, 
and  of  sins  unrepented  of.  Nothing  will  then  be  deemed 
interesting  or  important  but  the  salvation  which  is  in 
Christ  Jesus  with  eternal  glory.  Think  what  it  is  to  dwell 
with  God,  to  be  made  like  him,  to  see  him  as  he  is,  to  be 
delivered  from  every  source  of  uneasiness,  enriched  with 
every  blessing,  raised  to  the  highest  degree  of  glory  and 
felicity  of  which  our  nature  is  capable,  and  to  be  assured 
that  we  shall  be  for  ever  with  the  Lord.  Eternal  bliss ! 
eternal  bliss !  in  comparison  of  this,  what  are  all  the  ob- 
jects after  which  ambition  rages  in  public,  or  envy  pines 
in  secret  ?  they  have  not  even  the  place  of  an  atom,  or  the 
weight  of  a  feather,  or  the  value  of  a  straw.  If  the  neglect 
of  religion  only  deprived  you  of  this  happiness,  how  tre- 
mendous would  be  the  evil !  but  contemplate  the  misery 
of  hell.  Are  you  shocked  at  the  very  name  ?  Ah,  then, 
ask  yourself  what  must  be  the  dreadful  state  itself.  O 
that  you  may  never  relealize  it !  But  you  stand  on  the 
verge  of  the  eternal  world,  and  if  destitute  of  genuine 


278 


YOUTH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


YOUTH    IN   AFFLICTION. 


279 


piety,  you  are  on  the  very  brink  of  the  infernal  pit.  View 
it  with  fearful  apprehension.  Here  are  all  the  nations 
that  forgot  God ;  here  are  all  they  that  could  not  use  the 
world  without  abusing  it ;  here  are  they  who  were  careful 
for  many  things,  but  neglected  the  one  thing  needful ;  here 
are  the  young,  whose  hearts  cheered  them  in  the  days  of 
their  youth,  who  walked  in  the  way  of  their  own  heart, 
and  in  the  sight  of  their  own  eyes,  and  forgot  that  for  all 
these  things  God  would  bring  them  in  to  judgment ;  here  is 
the  foolish  man,  who  said  to  his  soul,  "  Soul,  take  thine 
ease,  for  thou  hast  much  store  of  goods  laid  up  for  many 
years ;  eat,  drink,  and  be  merry ;"  here  is  the  miserable 
Dives,  who  in  this  world  was  clothed  in  purple  and  fine 
linen,  and  fared  sumptuously  every  day,  but  is  now  calling 
for  a  drop  of  water  to  cool  his  parched  tongue  ;  and  here, 
too,  is  the  young  man,  so  promising,  so  wise,  so  humble, 
as  to  inquire  after  eternal  life,  on  his  knees,  and  so  amiable 
as  to  ensase  the  affection  of  the  Saviour,  but  who  went 
away  sorrowful  because  he  would  not  resign  an  earthly 
possession  at  the  command  of  Him  who  would  more  than 
have  repaid  the  sacrifice.  Alas  !  for  them,  they  have  now 
learned  the  madness  of  neglecting  their  immortal  souls. 
They  indulged  their  pleasure,  they  pursued  their  business, 
as  if  they  were  to  live  here  for  ever :  but  the  dream  is 
vanished  ;  their  eyes  are  opened  ;  wrath  is  come  upon 
them  to  the  uttermost ;  and  the  fire  of  hell  torments  both 
body  and  soul.  Do  you  know  and  believe  these  things  ? 
then  be  diligent  that  you  may  be  found  of  God  in  peace, 
without  spot  and  blameless. 

Consider  the  facilities  which  your  present  circumstances 
afford  for  the  attainment  of  religion.  How  loud  and  solemn 
is  the  call  by  which  God  is  now  addressing  you  !  Now  he 
entreats  you  to  give  him  all  your  heart,  and  to  seek  all 
your  happiness  in  him.  Now  he  is  convincing  you  that 
"  all  flesh  is  grass,  and  all  the  goodliness  thereof  is  as  the 


flower  of  the  field;"  that  "life  is  a  vapor  that  appeareth 
for  a  little  time,  and  then  vanisheth  away ;"  that  youth  is  no 
security  from  the  stroke  of  death,  and  therefore  nothing  can 
be  more  unwise  than  to  depend,  in  a  business  so  momentous, 
on  events  so  precarious.     Now  God  is  making  your  "heart 
soft,"  and  opening  your  ear  to   instruction.     Now  he  is 
giving  you  to  feel  the  poverty  of  earthly  pleasures  and  re- 
sources, and  the  importance  of  possessing  a  better  portion 
than  earth  can  furnish.     Now  he  is  giving  you  space  for 
repentance  ;  and  is  entreating  you  to  "  seek  the  Lord  while 
he  may  be  found,  and  to  call  upon  him  while  he  is  near." 
Now  you  enjoy  a  season  of  merciful  visitation.     This  may 
be  the  most  solemn  and  important  period  of  your  life,  the 
most  favorable  for  your  conversion  ;  and  if  you  suffer  it 
to  pass  away  without  improvement,  there  is  reason  to  fear 
that  no  future  affliction  will  prove  so  deeply  impressive,  or 
that  so  favorable  an  opportunity  will  occur  again.     Should 
you  recover,  what  facilities  can  you  anticipate  in  the  future 
more  favorable  than  those  which  you  now  possess?     Do 
you  imagine  that  your  heart  will  become  softer,  your  dis- 
position more  pliable,   or  your  mind  more  susceptible  of 
religious    impressions?     As  well   might  you  expect  that 
plants  should  gather  freshness  from  the  withering  drought. 
Evil  dispositions  grow  with  time,  and  are  confirmed  by 
exercise.     Sin  persisted  in  naturally  tends  to  darken  the 
understanding,  to  stupefy  the  conscience,  and  to  harden  the 
heart.     If  a  man  wishes  to  eradicate,  is  his  task  likely  to 
become  easier  by  suffering  the  shrub  to  grow  year  after 
year  till  it  becomes  a  tree,  and  is  so  deeply  rooted  as  to 
defy  even  a  storm  ?     Besides,  you  are  now  free  from  those 
cares  which  will  perplex,  from  those  schemes  which  will 
engross,  from  those  engagements  which  will  hinder  you  in 
mo're  advanced  life.     When  can  you  hope  that  your  worldly 
difficulties  will  be  fewer  than  at  present?     Neglect  the 
present  opportunity ;  and  the  probability  is,  that  you  will 


il 


280 


YOUTH   IN    AFFLICTION. 


become  entangled  either  with  the  cares  or  the  pollutions 
of  the  world  ;  that  religious  impressions  will  be  erased  ; 
that  your  mind  will  either  be  dissipated  by  pleasure,  or 
irritated  by  disappointment;  in  short,  that  you  will  increase 
a  hundred  fold  the  difficulties  of  salvation.  Above  all, 
remember  that  God  is  now  peculiarly  disposed  to  assist 
you :  your  present  affiictions  are  cords  of  love  by  which 
he  would  draw  you  to  himself — and  will  you  cut  them  off  ? 
They  are  so  many  ways  by  which  he  addresses  you ;  and 
will  you  refuse  him  that  speaketh  from  heaven  ?  O  cherish 
these  indications  of  his  mercy  !  Yield  yourself  now  to  the 
mandates  of  his  will,  to  the  impulse  of  his  Spirit,  and  to 
the  attractions  of  his  love,  saying, "  I  am  thine  :  save  me." 
"  To-day,  if  you  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  heart." 
"  Wilt  thou  not  from  this  time  cry  unto  me,  My  Father, 
thou  art  the  guide  of  my  youth  ?" 

Consider  the  pleasantness  of  early  piety.  It  is  the  com- 
mon delusion  of  the  world  that  religion  is  a  melancholy 
thing,  unsuitable  for  the  young,  and  destructive  of  their 
pleasure.  The  word  of  God,  on  the  contrary,  describes 
true  religion  to  be  the  only  source  of  real  comfort.  "  Her 
ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  are 
peace ;"  and  all  the  saints  in  the  universe  will  confirm  the 
truth  of  the  assertion.  Go  to  them — collect  their  testimony. 
Go  not  to  the  Christian  of  doubtful  character,  for  he  has 
only  just  religion  sufficient  to  make  him  miserable  ;  but 
go  to  the  holy,  the  devout,  and  they  will  tell  you  that  they 
never  knew  what  pleasure  was  until  they  gave  their  hearts 
to  God. 

In  support  of  their  testimony,  consider  the  miseries  which 
it  prevents.  It  does  not,  it  is  true,  deliver  from  poverty, 
sickness,  or  reproach ;  it  furnishes  no  defense  against  the 
sorrows  that  are  common  to  man  :  there  are,  however,  other 
evils  more  malignant  in  their  character,  and  much  more 
destructive  to  human  peace ;  these  arise  from  the  disposi- 


YOUTH   IN   AFFLICTION. 


281 


lion  of  the  heart,  and  from  these  it  is  that  it  saves  us.  It 
has  been  remarked,  "  The  mind  is  its  own  place,  and  can 
make  a  heaven  of  hell,  and  a  hell  of  heaven."  Men  carry 
the  springs  of  happiness  or  misery  in  their  own  bosom. 
Hence  it  is  said,  "  The  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea, 
when  it  cannot  rest,  whose  waters  cast  up  mire  and  dirt." 
So  long  as  conscience  only  reproaches  and  stings  ;  so  long 
as  the  affections  arc  inordinate,  base,  and  insincere,  selfish, 
guilty,  and  rebellious  ;  so  long  as  sin  is  indulged,  holiness 
hated,  and  God  dishonored, — it  is  impossible  that  peace 
and  consolation  should  find  a  residence  within.  Self-con- 
demned, self-despised,  self-abhorred,  your  mind  must  flee 
from  all  communion  with  itself,  and  must  try  to  find  its 
poor  and  transient  pleasure  in  forgetfulness  of  what  it  is, 
in  the  hurry  and  anxiety  of  worldly  business,  or  in  the 
pursuit  of  base  and  unhallowed  joys.  Sickly,  pained,  and 
languishing,  your  mind  may  thus  go  on  looking  for  health 
and  ease  from  medicines  that  will  only  irritate  the  disease, 
and  increase  the  pain ;  but  in  religion  you  will  find  the  true 
remedy.  It  frees  us  from  the  tyranny  of  evil  passions, 
from  horror  of  conscience,  from  the  burden  of  guilt,  and 
from  the  terrors  of  Jehovah's  wrath.  Thus  by  removing 
our  greatest  misery,  and  the  causes  which  produce  it,  it 
contributes  to  our  happiness. 

Dwell  upon  the  privileges  it  confers.  The  moment  you 
attempt  to  obtain  the  pardoning  love  of  God,  your  feet  are 
turned  toward  the  ways  of  peace  ;  and  when  you  have  ob- 
tained that  pearl  of  great  price,  you  will,  along  with  it. 


receive 


"  What  nothing  earthly  gives,  or  can  destroy, 
The  soul's  calm  sunshine,  and  the  heartfelt  joy." 

You  will  then  enter  into  rest.  Your  conscience  will  speak 
only  peace,  and  will  smile  with  approbation  on  all  the  pious 
dictates  of  your  heart.     You  will  be  restored  to  the  favor 


282 


YOUTH   IN   AFFLICTION. 


of  God,  and  in  him  you  will  find  all  that  can  make  you 
happy  in  this  evil  world.     God  will  become  the  object  of 
your  supreme  regard,  and  all  your  powers  will  sweetly 
repose  in  him.     You  will  rejoice  in  an  abiding  sense  of 
his  presence,  and  will  deem  it  your  meat  and  drink  to 
suffer  all  his  will.     Feeling  that  you  owe  your  all  to  him, 
that  the  debt  of  gratitude  already  contracted  is  immense, 
and  that  the  best  returns  you  can  make  to  him  are  poor 
and  unworthy,  you  will  be  still  saying,  "  What  shall  I 
render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  ?"     The  image  of 
your  Maker  will  then  be  stamped  upon  your  mind,  and 
beffin  to  shine  there  with  moral  and  eternal  beauty.     To 
your  eye  all  within   will   be   lovely   and   pleasant.     No 
tumult  will  ruffle,  no  storms  will  agitate  ;  peace  will  hush 
and  soothe  every  disordered  affection,  and  will  banish  every 
uneasy  purpose ;  and  serenity,  like  the  summer's  evening, 
will  spread  a  soft  and  pleasing  lustre  over  the  soul.     Pos- 
sessed of  a  new   and   real   dignity,  and  assuming  the 
character  of  a  rational  being,  you  will,  for  the  first  time, 
begin  to  enjoy  yourself;  and  you  will  find  this  enjoyment 
to  be  not  only  new,  and  entirely  different  from  anything 
you  have  ever  felt,  but  noble  and  expansive.     Thus  will 
your  days  glide  sweetly  away,  and,  secure  of  the  favor  of 
God,  while  in  humility  devoting  yourself  to  his  service, 
you  will  "  rejoice  evermore,  pray  without  ceasing,  and  in 
everything  give  thanks." 

Consider  the  consolations  it  imparts.  This  world  has 
been  represented  as  a  vale  of  tears  ;  all  who  travel  through 
it  must  expect  to  be  assailed  by  affliction  in  some  form  or 
other ;  but  no  affliction  can  befall  the  true  Christian  under 
which  religion  will  not  yield  him  suitable  comfort  and 
consolation.  Say,  my  young  friend,  if  you  are  a  follower 
of  the  world,  what  is  there  in  all  your  vain  delights  that 
can  support  and  comfort  the  mind  in  trouble  ?  where  now, 
in  your  distress,  is  your  relief  and  joy  ?     Nothing  but  re- 


yOUTH   IN   AFFLICTION. 


283 


ligion  can  qualify  you  for  suffering.  The  enmity  of  the 
world  will  assail  you  in  various  forms,  but  in  the  favor 
of  God  you  will  find  a  compensation  for  all  its  injuries. 
You  may  be  disappointed  in  the  tenderest  attachments 
of  life,  but  in  Christ  you  will  have  a  friend  that  loveth  at 
all  times,  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.  You 
may  see  your  dearest  companions  wasting  in  pining  sick- 
ness, and  your  spirits  may  sink  under  the  sad  foreboding 
of  a  separation  from  them,  in  the  very  season,  too,  when 
every  kind  affection  is  most  powerfully  excited  ;  but  you 
will  know  that  death  cannot  separate  you  from  the  love 
of  God  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  your  Lord.  Your  father 
and  mother  will  forsake  you  ;  this  first  and  silver  cord 
of  life  that  binds  you  together  must  be  broken,  and  in  vain 
will  you  address  them  in  the  language  of  endearment,  or 
touch  them  with  the  hand  of  love,  for  neither  voice  nor 
smile  will  acknowledge  your  kindness,  and  no  grasp  will 
respond  to  yours ;  but  then  you  will  know  that  Christ 
liveth  in  you,  and  enjoy  the  support  of  that  sweet  as- 
surance, "  This  God  is  my  God,  for  ever  and  ever ;  and 
he  will  guide  me  even  unto  death."  You  may  be  called 
to  endure  wasting  sickness  and  excruciating  pain,  but 
even  then,  as  your  pains  abound,  your  consolations  shall 

abound  also. 

Reflect  upon  the  happy  conclusion  of  a  religious  life.  O, 
my  young  friend,  let  me  tell  you,  and  tell  you  seriously, 
you  must  die.  If  life  be  protracted  a  few  years  longer, 
still  you  must  die.  Perhaps  you  look  on  death  as  dreadful. 
To  youth,  especially,  there  is  something  peculiarly  repul- 
sive in  the  idea  of  death;  for  shocking  is  the  contrast 
between  beauty  and  ghastliness,  soundness  and  corruption, 
gay  hopes  and  the  last  farewell ;  but  faith  in  Christ  can 
conquer  all  such  uneasy  feelifigs,  and  dissipate  them  so 
completely,  as  to  call  forth  the  song  of  triumph,  "  O  death, 
where  is  thy  sting?  O  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ?"    You 


284 


YOUTH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


must  die ;  yet,  if  possessed  of  an  interest  in  Christ,  you 
may  die  in  peace ;  and  when  the  hour  arrives  which  to 
many  proves  the  occasion  of  disquietude  and  anguish,  and 
indescribable  distress,  you  may  hail  its  approach  with, 
"  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly."  Then,  when  lan- 
guishing in  your  last  sickness,  you  may  wish  for  nothing 
less,  and  fear  nothing  more,  than  recovery  and  longer  life. 
O,  when  this  scene  of  vanity  is  ending,  and  the  world  with 
all  its  possessions  and  attractions  is  fading  away  from  your 
view  ;  when  all  that  has  here  been  the  occasion  either  of 
joy  or  sorrow,  hope  or  fear,  shall  cease  to  interest,  or  to 
awaken  one  feeling  in  the  heart;  then  you  shall  expe- 
rience the  invigorating  influence  of  faith  and  hope,  and  as 
you  advance  toward  the  border  of  an  awful  eternity,  and 
look  back  upon  what  you  are  leaving,  and  forward  to  what 
awaits  you,  you  shall  be  enabled  to  say,  "  The  world  is 
now  leaving  me,  but  I  regret  not  its  loss ;  I  have  long  re- 
nounced it  as  vanity  ;  more  substantial  bliss  I  have  in 
prospect ;  afflicted  I  am,  but  my  affliction  is  light  and 
momentary;  less,  far  less,  than  I  have  deserved.  It  is 
the  will  of  my  heavenly  Father,  and  I  submit.  He  makes 
my  bed  in  my  sickness,  and  puts  underneath  and  round  about 
me  his  everlasting  arms.  I  see  death  approaching,  but  I 
am  not  afraid  to  die.  My  sins,  of  which  I  have  repented, 
the  blood  of  Christ  hath  washed  away  ;  and  being  recon- 
ciled by  his  death,  how  much  more  shall  I  be  saved  by 
his  life  !  O,  how  precious  is  Christ  to  my  soul !  Farewell, 
ye  scenes  of  imperfection,  ye  scenes  of  sin  and  folly,  I  go 
where  joy  for  ever  reigns,  where  there  is  light  and  no  dark- 
ness, joy  and  no  sorrow,  holiness  and  no  alloy.  I  go  from 
mortal  to  immortal  things,  from  dying  men  to  the  living  God. 

"  My  cares  and  my  labors,  my  sickness  and  pain, 
And  sorrow,  are  near  to  an  end  ; 
The  summit  of  bliss  I  shall  speedily  gain, 
The  height  of  perfection  ascend." 


YOUTH    IN   AFFLICTION. 


285 


At  length  your  last  conflict  ends — your  tongue  is  silent 
— your  eyes  are  closed — the  silver  cord  is  loosed,  and  the 
golden  bowl  is  broken.  Surrounding  friends  look  not  on 
you,  but  on  your  lifeless  clay.  The  soul  is  escaped  to 
other  scenes,  to  an  unchanging  and  eternal  world.  Dark 
and  dismal  as  the  hour  appears  to  the  eye  of  sense,  if  you 
are  found  in  Jesus,  it  will  not  be  so  to  you  ;  but  when 
your  last  painful  struggle  is  over,  O,  what  a  mighty  change 
shall  you  experience  !  Admitted  into  heaven  as  your  final 
home,  what  new  prospects  will  present  themselves  ;  what 
new  treasures  will  be  unfolded  ;  what  ecstatic  joys  shall 
be  formed  in  your  heart !  You  will  then  be  favored  with 
the  immediate  presence  of  God  ;  you  will  gaze  upon  the 
unclouded  glory  of  Ilim  whom  you  have  loved,  though  not 
seen ;  you  will  be  blessed  with  the  society  of  angels,  and 
of  just  men  made  perfect ;  you  will  be  crowned  with  un- 
fading glory ;  you  will  have  an  overflowing  fullness  of 
divine  enjoyment ;  you  will  then  be  a  king  and  a  priest 
unto  God,  will  abide  in  his  immediate  presence,  "  where 
is  fullness  of  joy,  and  at  his  right  hand,  where  there  are 
pleasures  for  evermore."  O,  if  all  the  other  advantages 
of  early  piety  were  to  be  expunged,  surely  here  is  more 
than  sufficient  to  induce  you  to  make  religion  your  choice. 
If  not  before,  now  then  be  decided.  To  God  your  creator, 
preserver,  and  redeemer,  now  surrender  up  your  heart. 
Rest  not  until  your  peace  is  made  with  him.  Then,  saved 
by  grace,  you  will  be  happy  ;  the  remnant  of  your  days, 
whether  they  be  many  or  few,  will  be  strewed  with  sweet 
peace,  and  heavenly  hope,  and  bursting  joy ;  and  death, 
rendered  stingless,  will  be  welcomed  by  you  as  a  friend, 
and  as  a  necessary  passage  to  the  regions  of  blessedness. 
Beyond  the  grave,  while  the  sinner,  amidst  eternal  tor- 
ments, the  fire  that  never  is  quenched,  and  the  worm  that 
never  dies,  is  experiencing  the  bitter  fruits  of  a  life  of  sin 
and  folly,  you  will  begin  to  reap  the  fruits  of  a  life  devoted 


I 


286 


YOUTH   IN  AFFLICTION. 


to  the  service  and  glory  of  God.  Admitted  home  to  your 
Father's  house,  and  placed  in  that  mansion  which  your 
loving  Redeemer  hath  provided  for  you,  you  will  live 
only  to  become  increasingly  wise  and  happy  ;  and  a  strong 
feature  in  your  employment  will  be  to  sing,  "  Unto  Him 
that  hath  loved  me,  and  washed  me  from  my  sins  in  his 
own  blood,  and  hath  made  me  a  king  and  a  priest  unto 
God,  unto  him  be  glory  and  dominion  for  ever  and  ever." 
Be  wise,  then,  for  eternity.  Devote  your  youth  to  God, 
and  he  will  remember  for  ever.  He  will  be  vour  God 
here,  and  your  portion  for  ever  and  ever. 


OLD   AGE   IN   AFFLICTION.  287 


OLD  AGE  IN  AFFLICTION. 

God  of  my  childhood  and  my  youth, 

The  guide  of  all  my  days  ; 
I  have  declared  thy  heavenly  truth, 

And  told  thy  wondrous  ways. 

Wilt  thou  forsake  my  hoary  hairs, 

And  leave  my  fainting  heart  ? 
Who  shall  sustain  my  sinking  years, 

If  God,  my  strength,  depart? 

Let  me  thy  truth  and  power  proclaim 

To  the  surviving  age ; 
And  leave  a  savor  of  thy  name 

When  I  shall  quit  the  stage. 

••  AND  EVEN  TO  YOUR  OLD  AGE  I  AM  HE;  AND  EVEN  TO  HOAR  HAIRS 
WILL  I  CARRY  YOU."— Isaiah  xlvi,  4- 

Old  age  is  what  most  wish  to  attain,  and  of  which  those 
who  reach  it  are  generally  disposed  to  complain.  There 
is  a  great  variety  in  the  circumstances  and  feelings  which 
usually  accompany  this  period  of  life ;  but,  with  all  who 
attain  it,  it  is  the  time  when  their  "strength  fadeth ;"  and 
with  numbers  it  is  an  evil  time,  a  time  of  gloom  and  sadness, 
of  labor  and  sorrow.  Caleb  could  affirm,  "  Now,  lo !  I 
am  fourscore  and  five  years  old  ;  as  yet  I  am  as  strong  this 
day  as  I  was  in  the  day  that  Moses  sent  me  to  spy  out 
the  land :  as  my  strength  was  then,  even  so  is  my  strength 
now  for  war,  both  to  go  out  and  come  in."  But  how  few 
can  adopt  this  language  !  To  the  generality  of  the  aged 
the  language  of  Barzillai  is  much  more  appropriate,  "  I 
am  this  day  forescore  years  old,  and  can  I  discern  between 
good  and  evil  ?  Can  thy  servant  taste  what  I  eat,  or  what 
I  drink  ?  Can  I  hear  any  more  the  voice  of  singing  men 
or  singing  women  ?"  Yes,  to  the  greatest  portion  of  those 
who  attain  old  age  it  is  a  period  which  brings  along  with 


ii 


288 


OLD  AGE   IX  AFFLICTION. 


it  a  thousand  premonitions  of  that  aflecting  catastrophe  by 
which  the  "  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle "  shall  be 
dissolved. 

The  physical  deterioration  attendant  on  old  age  is  pecu- 
liarly afflictive.  Of  this  Solomon  has  given  us  a  highly 
figurative,  but  truly  impressive  description.  He  speaks 
of  it  as  a  time  "  when  the  sun,  and  moon,  and  stars  are 
darkened ;"  when  the  understanding,  the  imagination,  the 
memory,  those  superior  powers  which  rule  in  the  body  of 
man,  like  the  heavenly  luminaries  in  the  natural  world, 
become  obscured  and  fade  away,  as  when  darkening 
clouds  interpose  between  us  and  the  lights  of  the  firma- 
ment. In  the  latter  instance,  however,  the  obscuration  is 
but  temporary,  whereas  in  the  former  it  is  final.  In  every 
period  of  life  afflictions  and  vexations  occur,  yet  the  storm 
is  usually  succeeded  by  sunshine  and  calm,  and  these 
serve  to  obliterate  the  impression  from  our  minds ;  but 
now  the  "  clouds  return  after  the  rain."  Old  age  is  a 
period  of  continual  sorrow,  precluding  the  prospect  of  re- 
newed health,  or  of  belter  days.  "  The  keepers  of  the 
house,"  the  arms  and  hands,  which  are  made  to  defend  the 
body,  "  tremble  ;"  and  the  "  strong  men,"  the  shoulders, 
where  the  strength  of  the  body  is  placed,  and  which  were 
once  able  to  bear  every  weight,  begin  to  stoop  and  "  bow 
themselves."  "  The  grinders  cease ;"  the  teeth  decay, 
and  are  mostly  lost ;  and  the  few  that  remain  become  in- 
capable of  mastication,  and  thus  cease  to  do  their  work, 
"  because  they  are  few."  "  Also  those  that  look  out  at 
the  windows,"  the  optic  nerves,  which  receive  impressions 
through  the  medium  of  the  different  humors  of  the  eye, 
"  are  darkened  ;"  the  humors  becoming  thick,  flat,  and 
turbid,  are  no  longer  capable  of  transmitting  objects  in  that 
clear  and  distinct  manner  as  formerly,  so  that  the  aged  are 
as  one  that  looketh  out  of  a  window  in  a  dark  night. 
"  Then  the  doors  are  shut  in  the  street ;"  difldculties  and 


OLD   AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


289 


obstructions  attend  all  the  passages  of  the  body ;  and  be- 
cause "  the  sound  of  the  grinding  is  low,"  because  the  teeth 
are  either  lost  or  rendered  unserviceable,  indigestion  is 
induced,  with  all  its  train  of  attending  evils.     The  young 
and  healthy  sleep  soundly,  but  the  aged  sleep  with  diffi- 
culty, and  "  rise  up  at  the  voice  of  the  bird  ;"  they  slumber 
rather  than  sleep,  and  the  chirping  of  a  sparrow  is  suffi- 
cient to  awake  them.    "  The  daughters  of  music  are  brought 
low  ;"  the  voice,  that  wonderful  instrument,  almost  endless 
in  the  strength  and  variety  of  its  tones,  becomes  feeble  and 
tremulous  ;  the  spirits,  too,  being  less  active  than  once  they 
were,  and  the  hearing  dull,  they  are  less  affected  by  the 
powers  of  harmony,  and  merriment  and  pleasure  are  no 
more.     Old    age   being   inactive  and  helpless,  becomes 
"  afraid  of  that  which  is  high  ;"  the  steep  and  slippery  path 
is  viewed  with  apprehension  because  of  feebleness,  and 
when  they  walk  out,  "  fears"  are  ^'  in  the  way,"  lest  they 
should  meet  with  some  danger  which  they  have  neither 
strength  to  repel,  nor  agility  to   escape.     The  vigor  of 
manhood  has  been  superseded  by  feebleness,  decrepitude, 
and  imbecility ;  and  these  excite  apprehension  and  terror 
at  the   appearance  of  difficulty  or  danger.     Then  "  the 
almond-tree  "  falls  off.     The  hair  begins  to  change,  first 
gray,  then  white,  and,  like  the  almond-tree,  withers  and 
falls  away.    Even  the  "  grasshopper"  becomes  "  a  burden." 
The  legs,  once  light  and  nimble  to  leap  as  the  legs  of  that 
insect,  and  which  used  with  ease  to  bear  the  burden  of  the 
whole  body,  now  become  feeble,  and  unable  to  sustain  their 
own  weight.     And  when  the  faculties  thus  fail,  even  "  the 
desire  fails."     Persons  thus  advanced  in  age  no  longer 
delight  in  those  things  which  formerly  yielded  enjoyment, 
and  which  are  highly  grateful  and  entertaining  to  others. 
The  busy  scenes  of  life  are  viewed  as  troublesome  and 
oppressive— the  pursuits  of  gayety  and  pleasure  cease  to 
interest— the  powers  of  enjoyment  are   paralyzed— even 

13 


290 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


291 


conversation  becomes  wearisome.  Such  are  the  physical 
evils  which  come  upon  the  aged,  and  prepare  the  way  for 
the  last  and  greatest  evil,  when  "  man  goeth  to  his  long 
home,  and  the  mourners  go  about  the  streets." 

Rarely  is  the  decay  of  the  human  faculties  a  solitary 
affliction  ;    in   its  train  there  are  many   other  calamities 
which  greatly  increase  the  feelings  of  desertion  and  deso- 
lation with  which  it  is  often  connected.     It  is  usually  im- 
bittered  by  the  recollection   of  many  distressing  bereave- 
ments.     How  bitter   to  the  aged    is  the  recollection  that 
most  of  the  friends  and  companions  of  their  youth  have 
been  removed  by  the  hand  of  death !     One  and  another 
has  been  called  away,  until  they  are  left  almost  solitary 
and  alone  in  the  midst  of  a  new  world;  and  of  the  multi- 
tudes with  whom  they  have  mingled  in  the  journey  of  life 
scarcely  any  remain  to  console  them  in  their  declining 
years,  or  to  accompany  them  in  the  last  stage  of  their 
journey.     Their  partners  in  the  gay  sports  of  childhood, 
and  in  the  active  pursuits  of  business,  have  gone  to  their 
long  home.     When  their  engaging  appearance  and  amiable 
manners  arise  to  their  recollection,  their  heart  is  saddened 
by  the  thought  that  their  beauty  is  consumed  in  the  grave, 
and  that  to  the  world  their  accomplishments  are  lost  for 
ever.     Few  are  left  to  whom  they  can  talk  of  the  mercies, 
or  of  the  trials,  of  former  years.     A  new  race  has  gradually 
risen  up  around   them,  by  whom  they  are  regarded  with 
little  interest,  and  with  whom  they  have  but  little  sym- 
pathy.    The  same  sun  which  shone  upon  them  in  the 
days  of  their  youth  still  sheds  its  rays  around  them ;  but 
how  different  is  its  influence  on  their  languid  feelings  and 
on  their  freezing  blood !     The  same  spring  returns  which 
in  their  early  days  renovated  the  face  of  nature ;  but  how 
different  does  its  influence  appear  to  their  dim  eye,  and 
amid  the  sad  impressions  of  their  own  decay !     On  many 
a  scene,  once  esteemed  lovely  and  interesting,  they  are 


disposed  to  write,  "  The  glory  is  departed,  for  none  ap- 
pears decked  with  the  charms  which  youthful  fancy  beheld 

in  it." 

How  utterly  forsaken  and  destitute  are  some  of  the  aged ! 
The  loss  of  children  to   some,  and  the  undutifulness  of 
rhildren  to  others,  are  calamities  of  the  severest  nature. 
Bitter  is  the  pang  which  wrings  the  heart,  when,  instead 
of  realizing  the  fond  anticipations  of  earlier  days,  and  re- 
ceiving from  a  numerous  family  those  kind,  prompt,  and 
affectionate  attentions  which  mitigate  the  pains  and  soothe 
the  sorrows  of  declining  years,  the  aged  see  their  children 
successively  torn  away  by  the  relentless  hand  of  death, 
until  that  hand  has  written  them   childless,  nor  left  so 
much  as  one  to  minister  to  their  wants,  to  smooth  their 
dying  pillow,  or  to  close  their  eyes  when  they  shall  have 
finished  their  course.     Or,  what  is  still  more  painful  to^ 
endure,  when  the  aged  see  their  children  become  perverse, 
ungrateful,  and  rebellious,  and  in  the  eager  pursuit  of  low 
and  degrading  pleasures,  or  from  base  and  inhuman  selfish- 
ness, leave  them  to  solitude,  neglect,  and  suffering. 

Poverty  is  a  frequent  accompaniment  of  old  age.  Heavy 
is  the  affliction  when  the  decay  of  natural  strength  is  asso- 
ciated with  a  diminution  or  an  actual  withdrawment  of  the 
necessary  supplies  of  life  ;  when  the  want  of  food  and 
raiment  is  connected  with  the  conviction,  the  painful  con- 
viction, that  there  is  no  power  to  labor  for  them  as  in  days 
that  are  past.  And  how  soon  does  neglect  fall  to  the  lot 
of  him  who  hath  waxed  poor !  Harrowing  must  be  the 
conviction  to  a  right-hearted  man,  that  he  is  felt  and  com- 
plained of  as  a  burden,  and  that  the  supply  he  is  compelled 
by  necessity  to  receive  is  given  to  him  with  reluctance. 
Seldom,  in  such  case,  do  the  soft  tones  of  affection  reach 
his  ear  ;  far  more  frequently  is  it  assailed  by  the  language 
of  cold  insensibility,  or  of  stem  reproach.  Sad  is  the 
condition  of  him  who  has  to  endure  in  his  latter  days  the 


293 


OLD  AGE    IX   AFFLICTION. 


OLD  AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


203 


pressure  of  pain  and  multiplying  infirmities,  and  who.  with 
the  recollection  of  better  days  pressing  upon  his  mind,  has 
to  struggle  with  poverty,  neglect,  and  ingratitude.     Such 
a  termination   of  the  journey  of  life,  when  viewed  apart 
from    religion,   is  cheerless  and  melancholy.      Relicrion 
which  is  the   best  companion  of  our  youth,  is  the  only 
effectual  support  of  the  aged.     It  is  that  alone  which  can 
solve  the  difficulties  that  perplex  the  mind,  when  the  human 
life  IS  viewed  apart  from  a  future  state,  and  from  the  liaht 
which  Scripture  supplies ;  and  it  is  that  alone  which  c'an 
remove  the   gloom  and  despondency  so  generally  expe- 
rienced when  the  aged  are  left  to  struggle  with  infirmity 
and  desolation.     How  many  by  the  hopes  and  influences 
of  the  ever-blessed  gospel  have  been  rendered,  not  only 
patient  and  resigned,  but  even  joyful !    Their  "  hoary  head 
has  been   "  a  crown  of  glory,  being  found  in  the  way  of 
righteousness."     Amidst   the   pressure  of  circumstances 
peculiarly  discouraging,  they  have  exhibited  a  settled  tran- 
quilhty  of  mmd,  a  firm  and  unshaken  confidence  in  God 
a  cheerful  submission  to  the  circumstances  of  their  con' 
dition,  not  less  beneficial  to  themselves  than  instructive  to 
others.     Suffer  me,  then,  to  place  before  the  aged  reader 
the  duties  and  consolations  which  peculiarly  belong  to  this 
advanced  period  of  life.     The  foundation  of  all  must  be 
aid  m  those   great    principles  of  religion,    '« repentance 
toward  God,  and  faith  in  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."     Until 
then,  you  cannot  possess  a  Christian   character,  nor  can 
you  experience  the  supports  and  consolations  connected 
with  It      To  all  men  of  every  age,  no  inquir>^  can  be  so 
interesting   and  important   as   that  which  relates  to  the 
grounds  of  their  faith  and  hope  in  God,  and  of  their  ex- 
pectation of  future  happiness.     Many  cherish  a  persuasion 
of  their  spiritual  safety  whose  hope  is.  a  fearful  delusion- 
a  dangerous  presumption-and  has  no  sanction  whatsoever 
in  the  word  of  God.     To  the  aged,  however,  ready  as  they 


are  in  the  ordinary  course  of  nature  to  sink  into  the  grave, 
it  is  of  the  greatest  consequence  that  they  should,  with- 
out a  moment's  delay,  solemnly  and  faithfully  ask  their 
own  heart,  whether  they  have  repented  of  their  sins,  and 
believed  in  Christ  with  their  hearts  unto  righteousness. 
Can  you,  my  aged  friend,  look  back  upon  the  long  period 
which  divine  forbearance  has  permitted  you  to  live,  and 
not  perceive  that  you  have  been  guilty  of  innumerable 
omissions  and  neglects  of  duty ;  of  innumerable  acts  of 
positive  transgression,  in  thought,  word,  and  deed,  against 
the  divine  majesty  ;  and  that  your  sins  have  been  attended 
by  many  aggravating  circumstances  ?     Have  you  not  im- 
pressed upon  your  mind  the  recollection  of  mercies  abused, 
opportunities  lost,  talents  misapplied,  ordinances  neglected, 
and  warnings  slighted ;  and  do  not  these  call  for  deep 
humiliation  and  heartfelt  sorrow  ?     True  humility  and  con- 
trition of  spirit  will  lead  you  with  much  earnestness  to 
implore  the  divine  forgiveness,  and  to  rest  your  hope  of 
obtaining  it  exclusively  upon  the  atonement  and  mediation 
of  the  Redeemer.     Remember  that  if  you  are  a  stranger  to 
Clirist,  your  saving  acquaintance  with  him  must  be  now  or 
never.    Every  step  brings  you  nearer,  not  only  to  the  grave, 
but  to  the  eternal  gulf.     Your  present  position  is  one  un- 
speakably fearful,  and  its  aspect  can  only  be  changed  by 
an  immediate,  hearty,  and  unreserved  application  to  the 

blood  of  sprinkling. 

Mercy  yet  waits  to  be  gracious  ;  and  it  must  be  criminal 
and  foolish  in  the  highest  degree  to  delay,  for  one  moment, 
the  acceptance  of  its  offers.  You  may  be  afraid  to  at- 
tempt this  from  fear  and  despair ;  but  you  thus  question 
the  sincerity  and  power  of  a  gracious  Saviour,  and  give  to 
the  devil  success  in  his  last  attempt  to  ruin  you.  The 
prayer  of  contrition  never  rose  to  him  in  vain.  "  Why 
will  ye  die?"  is  the  language  which  he  pours  into  the 
sinner's  ear,  as  he  totters  on  the  brink  of  eternal  wo.    Flee, 


">  1 

i 


294 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


then,  to  your  stronghold ;  escape  for  your  life ;  a  little 
while  longer,  and  neither  penitence  nor  faith  will  avail ; 
seize,  then,  this  opportunity  of  escape  from  wrath  to  come! 
Is  the  reader,  however,  one  who  has  already  received  re- 
mission of  sins  and  an  inheritance  among  them  that  are 
sanctified  ?  Can  you  say,  "  I  do,  indeed,  feel  that  I  am  a 
sinner ;  but  I  have  mourned  over  my  transgressions  before 
God,  they  have  led  me  to  cry  earnestly  to  him  for  mercy, 
to  cast  myself  upon  the  atonement  of  the  Redeemer  as  my 
only  hope,  and  by  faith  in  him  I  have  found  peace  for  a 
troubled  conscience,  and  can  now  rejoice  in  hope  of  the 
glory  of  God  ?"  Then  let  your  mind  be  directed  to  those 
duties  which  arise  from  the  peculiarity  of  your  present 
circumstances. 

Dayly  familiarize  yourself  to  the  thought  of  your  ap- 
proaching end.     You  cannot  expect  long  to  be  the  pilgrim 
of  earth.     How  important  that  ere  you  are  called  hence  you 
should  familiarize  to  your  mind  the  thought  of  your  depart- 
ure !     You  are  about  to  take  a  journey  into  a  far  country  ; 
and  it  is  well,  surely,  that  your  mind  should  often  recur 
to  your  great  and  solemn  undertaking.     It  is  worse  than 
lolly,  it  is  madness,  for  an  aged  man  to  turn  away  from  the 
thoughts  of  his  latter  end.     The  young  may  die  soon,  the 
aged  must.     Yet  it  is  wonderful  with  what  eagerness  many 
of  the  old  cling  to  the  idea  of  years  yet  to  come,  and  how 
gratified  they  are  with  every  compliment  from  others  which 
strengthens  that  idea.    Little  as  life  has  to  recommend  it  at 
such  a  period,  they  cleave  to  it  with  eager  and  pertinacious 
grasp.     When  compelled  to  admit  that  they  have  not  long 
10  live,  it  is  with  evident  reluctance,  nor  has  the  prospect 
the  least  influence  on  their  temper  and  conduct.     They 
see  the  winter's  storm  gathering,  but  prepare  no  shelter. 
Such  conduct  is  in  every  view  indecent,  irreligious,  and 
contemptible.     It  presents  one  of  the  most  striking  exam- 
ples of  the  weakness  and  depravity  of  man.     What  can 


OLD   AGE  IN   AFFLICTION. 


295 


present  a  greater  outrage  to  common  sense,  than  old  age 
displaying  the  follies  which  dishonor  youth  ?    This  outdares 
the  felon  repeating  his  crime  not  only  under  the  gallows, 
but  with  the   cord  around  his  neck.     To  the  Christian, 
however,  the  idea  of  death  is   familiar,  and  it  has  in  it 
nothing  unpleasant ;  he  cherishes  it  as  an  important  ele- 
ment in  the  improvement  of  his  character.     To  those  who 
are  in  Christ  Jesus,  an  exchange  of  worlds  is  an  unspeakable 
blessing.     Death,  in  itself  a  gloomy  and  depressing  sub- 
iect  when  viewed  in  connection  with  the  cross  and  pas- 
sion'of  the  Redeemer,  and  vital  union  with  him,  loses  its 
natural  terrors,  and  assumes  an  aspect  even  of  invitation 
and  triumph.     Endeavor,  then,  to  rise  to  the  spirit  of  that 
unseen  world  into  which  you  must  so  soon  enter.     Realize 
by  faith  the  animating  and  consoling  discoveries  of  Scrip- 
lure      Meditate  on  the  promises.     Survey  the  fair  land 
which  lies  beyond  the  floods  of  Jordan.     Give  yourself  to 
meditation  and  prayer,  and  let  the  love  of  heavenly  things 
and  the  prospect  of  their  speedy  enjoyment,  raise  your  mmd 
above  the  trials  you  endure.     Let  every  commg  day  find 
you  more   engaged  in  these  exercises.     How  refreshmg 
Le  the  prospects  of  the  aged  Christian  !     In  the  near  view 
of  eternal  life  he  may  well  forget  all  that  would  invest  de- 
dining  years  with  melancholy  and  gloom.    He  has  reached 
t   last  stage  of  a  journey  which  tends  to  his  Father's 
house.     He  has  passed  the   wilderness,   and  stands  on 
Jordan's  bank,  ready  to  enter  the  promised  land  when  he 
waters  of  the  cold  stream  shall  have  divided.    Through  the 
crevices  which  time  and  affliction  have  made  in  his  earthly 
tabernacle,  the  soul  looks  out  upon  its  eternal  mansions  ; 
and  how   refreshing  should  be  the  sight  of  honie       This 
life  at  best  is  but  the  night  of  existence  :  we  only  begin  to 
live  when  we  die.     O,  aged  pilgrim,  rejoice  with  joy  un- 
speakable !     With  you  the  night  is  far  spent,  and  the  day 
is  at  hand.     Your  all-faithful  Redeemer  will  keep   that 


296 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


which  you  have  committed  to  him :  he  will  not  forsake 
you  when  your  strength  faileth.  Instead  of  shrinking 
from  the  approach  of  death,  rather  cry,  "  Lord,  help  me  to 
spring  forward  to  meet  it  as  the  joyful  porch  to  immortal 
bliss."  So  to  do  is  to  die  dayly.  Complete  blessedness 
will  meet  you ;  for  "  blessed  are  the  dead  which  die  in  tlie 
Lord."  They  enter  into  rest.  To  them  "to  die  is  gain  " 
O  realize  their  blessedness,  every  day;  and  then  dying 
will  not  seem  to  you  as  if  some  strange  thing  happened 
to  you ! 

Endeavor  in  the  midst  of  your  trials  to  cultivate  a  thank- 
ful disposition.  In  the  retrospect  of  his  past  life  how  much 
of  the  goodness  of  God  may  the  aged  Christian  discover  to 
call  forth  grateful  acknowledgment !  On  the  record  of  me- 
mory there  are  ascribed  a  thousand  memorials  of  the  loving- 
kindness  and  faithfulness  of  his  God  and  Father.  In  scenes 
of  darkness  and  of  light,  he  perceives  the  indications  of  one 
and  the  same  paternal  government.  He  wonders  not  that 
he  has  been  afflicted  so  much  as  that  he  should,  amidst  so 
many  provocations,  have  been  treated  with  so  much  lenity 
and  forbearance.  O  what  a  delightful  theme  of  meditation 
in  old  age  is  the  providence  of  God,  beheld,  as  it  is  by  the 
Christian,  in  its  relation  to  the  economy  of  redemption  ! 

Consider,  aged  reader,  from  how  many  dangers  divine 
Providence  has  delivered  you.  How  often,  by  God's 
mercy,  you  have  been  recovered  from  sickness,  and  rescued 
from  calamities  to  which  many  of  your  friends  have  fallen 
victims,  and  which  might  have  cut  short  your  connection 
with  time,  and  ushered  you,  with  all  the  guilt  of  impeni- 
tence, into  the  presence  of  an  offended  and  avenging  God  ! 
Reflect  on  the  numberless  instances  in  which  you  have 
experienced  the  goodness  of  God,  when  you  might  justly 
have  been  suffered  to  perish  in  your  iniquities.  Call  to 
mind  all  the  means  employed  by  the  Almighty  for  effecting 
your  conversion  to  himself;  how  he  followed  you  in  your 


OLD    AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


297 


wanderings,  strove  with  your  impenitence,  gave  you  warn- 
ing  after  warning,  arousing  you  from  your  lethargy,  check- 
in^  you  in  your  pursuits  of  sin  and  folly,  hedging  up  your 
way  with  thorns,-until  at  length,  pierced  with  a  sense  of 
sin  and  danger,  you  became  "wearied  in  the  greatness  of^ 
vour  way,"  and  cried,  "God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner . 
Consider,  too,  how  often  b).  God's  grace  you  have  been 
preserved  from  temptations  to  sin,  to  which  you  rnight  have 
Llded ;  and  your  souls  delivered  from  the  wiles  o    the 
great  enemy,  "like  as  a  bird  from  the  snares  of  the  fowler : 
how  repeatedly  the  power  of  his  grace  has  been  felt  m  the 
subjugation  of  besetting  sins;  in  victory  over  the  world ; 
in  the  gradual  diminution  of  unbelieving  fears;  in  the  feel- 
ing of  increased  communion  with  God;  in  limiting  the 
influence  of  temptation ;  and  in  strengthening  the  prmciple 
of  holy  resignation  to  the  divine  will.     In  affliction,  too, 
this  grace  has  been  as  an  angel  of  mercy  speaking  peace 
to  your  sorrowful  spirit;  and  teaching  you  to  look  up  to 
Him  who  afflicts  not  willingly,  nor  grieves  the  children  of 
men,  but  does  it  only  when  there  is  a  needs  be,  and  invariably 
for  our  profit.     Even  amidst  the  weariness,  and  infirmity, 
and  sorrow,  that  now  press  upon  you,  there  are  not  wantmg 
causes  for  thankfulness.     If  many  of  the  springs  of  your 
former  enjoyment  are  dried  up,  has  not  God  opened  new 
streams  of  life  and  happiness  to  your  view  T    May  you  not 
in  the  contemplation,  say  ?-"I  am,  it  is  true.  We-  and 
tottering,  and  my  natural  strength  decayed    but     God  is 
the  strength  of  my  heart,  and  my  portion  for  ever^     My 
eye  is  dim ;  but  by  faith  I  can  penetrate  withm  the  veil, 
and  behold  the  land  that  is  afar  off.     Many  are  the  mfir- 
n^ities  which  remind  me  that  the  tabernacle  of  clay  is  about 
to  be  dissolved;  but  everlasting  arms  are  about  my  sinkmg 
frame,  and  the  God  of  Jacob  is  the  refuge  and  hiding  place 
of  my  soul.     He  it  is  who  in  my  sleepless  hours  gives  me 
.  songs  in  the  night,'  and  teaches  my  faintmg  spirit  to  rely 

13* 


298 


OLD  AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


on  the  faithful  promises  of  his  unchanging  love.  '  I  am 
poor  and  needy,  yet  the  Lord  ihinkoth  upon  me,'  and  '  my 
bread  shall  be  given  me,  and  my  water  shall  be  sure.* 
My  friends  are  nearly  all  gone,  removed  by  the  hand  of 
death ;  'but  the  Lord  liveth,  and  blessed  be  my  rock  ;  and 
let  the  God  of  my  salvation  be  exalted.*  Why  should  I 
complain  that  it  is  not  with  me  as  in  former  days  ?  Am  I 
not  going  the  way  of  all  flesh,  and  must  not  age  and  in- 
firmity seek  their  resting  place  in  the  grave  ?  Death  will 
terminate  my  sorrows,  and  reward  my  toils ;  will  bring  the 
crown  of  glory ;  and  put  me  in  possession  of  all  those  bless- 
ings to  which  in  desire  and  expectation  I  have  been  so  long 
looking  forward."  The  thankfulness  thus  excited  by  the 
review  of  your  mercies  will  naturally  dispose  you  to 
avoid  those  infirmities  of  temper  to  which  old  age  is  ex- 
posed. It  will  especially  check  that  frctfulness  and 
irritability  into  which  the  aged  are  sometimes  betrayed ; 
instead  of  having  your  mind  overspread  with  gloom  and 
despondency,  it  will  be  pervaded  by  serenity  and  peace  ; 
instead  of  the  language  of  complaint,  you  will  adopt  the 
acknowledgment  of  Jacob,  "  I  am  not  worthy  of  the  least 
of  all  the  mercies,  and  of  all  the  truth,  which  thou  hast 
showed  unto  thy  servant." 

Guard  against  the  temptations  incident  to  your  condition. 
Increasing  infirmities  both  of  body  and  mind,  attended,  it 
may  be,  not  only  with  loss  of  many  sources  of  enjoyment, 
but  also  with  positive  weariness  and  pain,  have  a  natural 
tendency  to  irritate  and  sour  the  temper.  Sometimes  this 
irritation  will  display  itself  in  expressions  of  impatience, 
and  in  peevishness  of  behavior  ;  sometimes  in  a  propensity 
to  obtrude  on  others  minute  and  complaining  details  of  pains 
and  trials  ;  sometimes  in  the  indulgence  of  unreasonable 
expectations  of  sympathy  and  assistance,  and  then  in  dis- 
content and  murmurs  when  these  expectations  are  disap- 
pointed :    the  harshest  reflections  are  indulged,  and  the 


OLD  AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


299 


wish  is  repeated,  that  they  were  taken  away  from  a  scene 
where  there  is  none  to  pity  them.     But  when  the  mind  and 
heart  are  governed  by  the  principles  and  feelings  of  religion, 
such  fretfulness  and  impatience  will  have  no  place,  or,  at 
least,  will  be  guarded  against  and  resisted.    Pain  and  infirm- 
ity will  be  meekly  borne,  as  being  designed  by  a  merciful 
Creator,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  his  providence,  to  exer- 
cise the  graces  of  patience  and  resignation,  and  gradually 
to  wean  the  heart  from  a  world  which  it  is  so  soon  to 
leave.     There  is  enough  in  the  present  supports  and  in  the 
eternal  hopes  of  Christianity  to  check  the   feelings  of 
despondency,  and  to  inspire  resignation  and  contentment. 
With  the  Bible  in  his  hand,  and  its  precious  truths  in  his 
heart,  the  aged  pilgrim  may  rise  above  all  the  discourage- 
ments of  his  condition,  and  may  show  to  all  around  him 
that  he  can  joy  in  the  Lord,  even  when  the  springs  of  crea- 
turely  enjoyment  are  one  after  another  dried  up.     How 
much  does  a  peaceful  and  serene  old  age  adorn  the  Chris- 
tian profession,  especially  in  the  season  of  infirmity  and 
afl[liction !    Let  the  aged  reader,  therefore,  treasure  up  such 
thoughts  and  reflections  as  tend  to  gladden,  to  expand,  to 
purify  the  heart.     To  complain  of  the  infirmities  of  old  age, 
is  as  absurd  as  to  complain  of  the  falling  leaves  of  autumn,  or 
the  short  and  feeble  light  of  the  winter's  sun,  when  the  year 
is  drawing  to  a  close.     Though  many  comforts  are  with- 
drawn, think  how  many  yet  remain  ;  though  many  infirmi- 
ties press,  yet  they  are   appointed  of  God,  that  he  may 
manifest  his  compassion  and  mercy  in  solacing  and  sup- 
porting the  suflferer.    The  heart  fails,  that  he  may  strengthen 
it.     The  steps  totter,  that  he  may  uphold  them.     Nature 
droops,  that  he  may  revive  it ;  and  sad  and  gloomy  fore- 
bodings arise,  that  he   may  give   everlasting   consolation 
and  good  hope  through  grace.     You  have  only  been  called 
to  tread  that  path  which  thousands  have  trodden  before 
you,  and  nothing  has  yet  befallen  you  but  what  is  common 


300 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


to  men.  Strive  then  to  be  an  example  of  patience,  and 
meekness,  and  resignation  to  the  will  of  God.  By  nothing 
can  you  more  effectually  recommend  religion  to  others. 
This  will  speak  a  language  which  none  can  mistake ;  it 
will  commend  itself  to  the  most  perverse  and  thoughtless. 
Your  cheerful  patience  under  infirmities  will  prove  the 
strength  of  your  consolation  ;  and  your  tranquillity  in  the 
view  of  death  will  be  an  evidence  of  the  power  of  the  hope 
of  immortality.  Thus  the  fortitude  and  acquiescence  which 
they  will  admire  will  be  your  joy  and  crown.  And  how 
peaceful  is  death  to  a  man  thus  familiarized  to  it !  It  is 
sweet,  like  the  evening  of  a  long  summer  day,  when  a 
solemn  stillness  is  gathering  over  the  world,  when  the 
clouds  are  gilded  by  the  departing  sun,  and  the  air  is  cooled 
by  the  falling  dew. 

Earnestly  seek  after  an  increasing  meetness  for  future 
and  eternal  glory.  An  apostle  assigns  it  as  a  reason  for 
diligence,  that  our  salvation  is  nearer  than  when  we  be- 
lieved. Holiness  is  capable  of  improvement  to  the  last  stage 
of  our  lives.  It  was  when  the  apostle  Paul  was  approach- 
ing the  termination  of  his  course,  when  he  had  the  end  of 
his  journey  in  view,  when  he  had  outstripped  most  of  his 
competitors  in  the  Christian  course,  that  he  exclaimed, 
"  Not  as  though  I  were  already  perfect,  but  this  one  thing 
I  do,  forgetting  the  things  which  are  behind,  and  reaching 
forth  to  those  which  are  before,  I  press  toward  the  mark 
for  the  prize  of  my  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus." 
The  symptoms  of  decay,  therefore,  which  so  rapidly  in- 
crease upon  you,  instead  of  being  regarded  as  reasons  for 
repose  and  self-indulgence,  ought  to  be  considered  as  so 
many  calls  to  redeem  the  time.  Your  eye  is  now  dim, 
but  it  will  soon  be  completely  closed.  Your  voice  is  now 
feeble,  but  it  will  soon  be  completely  silent.  Your  ability 
to  avail  yourself  of  the  means  of  grace,  and  the  opportuni- 
ties of  usefulness,  is  rapidly  declining  :  soon  it  will  alto- 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


301 


gether  cease.     Receiving,  therefore,  dayly  admonitions  of 
your  approaching  end,  ought  they  not  to  excite  in  you  in- 
creasing earnestness  and  diligence  to  improve  the  short 
time  of  existence  which  yet  remains  ?     Ought  not  the 
prospect  before  you  to  produce  the  same   result?     You 
are  soon  to  associate  with  those  who  "  serve  God  day  and 
night  in  his  temple,"  and  will  you  now  slumber?     You 
are  soon  to  sing  "  the  song  of  the  Lamb,"  and  will  you 
now  "  hang  your  harp  upon  the  willows  ?"     You  are  soon 
to  see  God  as  he  is,  and  will  you  now  stop  short  in  your 
pursuit  of  holiness  ?     The  Bridegroom  is  at  hand,  and  will 
you  now  give   yourselves  up  to  slumber?     Loud  is  the 
call  that  is  addressed  to  you,  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God ;" 
and  will  you  now  yield  to  the  flesh,  which  is  ever  crying, 
"  Be   still  ?"     Glory  at  hand  requires  the  full  and  lively 
exercise  of  grace  ;  and  heaven  opening  before  you  demands 
the  utmost  ardor  of  love  and  praise.     Have  you  yet  carried 
holiness  to  the  utmost  height  ?     Have  you  yet  reached  the 
full  extent  of  Christian  privilege  ?     Have  you  yet  realized 
the  salvation  of  the  gospel  in  all  its  fullness  ?     Will  your 
faith,  and  hope,  and  love,  and  spirituality,  admit  of  no  further 
increase  ?     Do  you  not  see  many  defects  that  need  to  be 
remedied  ;  many  blessings  that  are  yet  unattained  ;  many 
promises    that  are  yet  unfulfilled?     Improve,    therefore, 
the  short  period  that  yet  remains,  that  you  may  attain  a 
ripeness  for  glory,  that  you  may  come  to  the  "  grave  in  full 
age,  like  as  a  shock  of  corn  cometh  in  his  season."   Often 
meditate  on  the  piety  of  those  who  have  gone  before  you, 
especially  of  those  who  are  recorded  in  the  sacred  volume 
as  our  exemplars.      Reflect  on  the  time  you  have  lost; 
the  account  you  will  shortly  have  to  render ;  the  trial  that 
awaits  you.     Consider,  especially,  the  example  of  your 
Redeemer :  think  how  he  spent  the    three  years  which 
preceded  his  crucifixion  ;  how  his  time  was  filled  up  with 
sermons,  miracles,  labors,  sufferings,  prayers,  and  kind- 


302 


OLD  AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


nesses ;  and  how  he  employed  the  forty  days  which  inter- 
vened between  his  resurrection  and  ascension  in  visits  of 
love,  counsels  of  wisdom,  and  incitements  to  diligence. 
Be  concerned,  therefore,  to  improve  to  the  latest  of  your 
existence  the  period  of  your  probation,  nor  think  of  suspend- 
ing your  exertions  in  the  pursuit  of  increasing  holiness 
until  the  Bridegroom's  approach  is  announced,  that  you  may 
go  forth  with  joy  to  meet  him. 

Old  age,  when  connected  with  piety,  admits  of  many 
consolations.  To  some  of  the  considerations  which  are 
calculated  to  console  the  mind  of  the  aged  sufferer,  I  would 
direct  your  attention. 

Consider  that  there  is  nothing  peculiar  in  the  afflictions 
you  endure,  or  which  need  prevent  the  enjoyment  of  internal 
peace  and  comfort.  The  greater  part  of  what  you  endure 
has  arisen  in  the  common  course  of  nature,  and  is  what 
you  had  every  reason  to  expect.  Are  not  the  infirmities 
you  experience,  such  as  the  dim  eye,  the  trembling  step, 
the  tottering  frame,  the  aching  limb,  the  restless  and  weari- 
some nights, — the  usual  attendants  of  old  age?  Have  you 
then  any  just  cause  to  complain  of  what  the  constitution  of 
your  being  imposes  on  all  ?  Did  you  expect  that  for  your 
sake  Providence  would  interpose  to  interrupt  the  established 
order  of  nature  ?  Whether  you  contemplate  the  vegetable, 
the  animal,  or  the  intellectual  kingdom,  you  may  trace  the 
uniform  operation  of  the  same  law.  Whatever  presses 
toward  maturity,  no  sooner  reaches  that  point  than  it  begins 
to  verge  toward  decay.  The  feebleness  of  age  is  as 
natural  as  for  the  stalk  to  bend  under  the  ripened  ear,  or 
for  the  autumnal  leaf  to  wither  and  die.  To  this  law  all 
who  have  gone  before  you  have  submitted,  and  to  it  all 
who  come  after  you  must  submit.  It  extends  alike  to  all, 
whether  poor  or  rich,  despised  or  honored,  foolish  or  wise, 
yea,  wicked  or  righteous.  Such,  indeed,  was  not  the 
original  condition  of  our  being.     It  is  the  sad  consequence 


OLD  AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


303 


of  sin.    God  made  man  upright  and  immortal ;  "  but  by  one 
man  sin  entered  into  the  world,  and  death  by  sin,  and  so 
death  passed  upon  all  men,  for  that  all  have  sinned."    Man 
withers  because  he  is  a  sinner,  and  because  it  is  the  law 
of  his  Creator  in  reference  to  him  as  such,  that  he  shall 
be  tending  to  the  tomb  from  the  first  moment  of  his  en- 
trance  on  his  earthly  pilgrimage.     It  is  not,  however,  the 
trials  even  of  old  age  that  need  prevent  the  enjoyment  of 
peace  and  consolation.     The  chief  materials  of  happiness 
are  within  us,  and  are  to  be  found  in  the  favor  and  enjoy- 
ment of  God.     Without  this  no  age  can  yield  enjoyment. 
Could  you  enjoy  perpetual  youth  and  vigor,  yet,  if  sm  were 
to  reign  dominant  in  your  heart,  you  would  be  restless  and 
unhappy.     Sin   and   misery  are  inseparable  ;    and  while 
man  remains  under  the  control  of  sin,  no  outward  circum- 
stances,   however  favorable,  can  impart  true  satisfaction 
and  enjoyment.     Whereas,  to  the  pious,  no  period  ot  lite 
is  insupportable,  because  they  draw  their  chief  happiness 
from  sources  which  are  independent  of  age   and  time 
The  value  of  piety  does  not  diminish,  but  increase,  with 
advancing  years.     Its  comforts  are  always  efficacious  and 
abundant.     I  have  seen  aged  persons  poor,  and  infirm,  and 
lonely,  yet  with  a  sweeter  smile  of  contentment  upon  their 
faces,  and  a  fuller  song  of  praise  upon  their  lips  than  is  to 
be  met  with  in  situations  far  more  favorable.     They  have 
thanked  the  Lord  for  a  dwelling,  in  which  the  eye  of  con- 
tentment saw  no  meanness  ;   for  kindness,  in  which  the 
heart  of  gratitude  felt  naught  that  was  humiliating ;  and 
for  a  solitude,  in  which  the  spirit  of  piety  was  conscious 
of  no  exclusion.     The  gospel  of  Christ  can  make  a  man 
happy  in  all  situations.    It  fixes  him  on  the  Rock  of  ages  ; 
it  purifies  his  conscience ;  it  delivers  him  from  corroding 
passions;  it  introduces  him  into  the  element  of  love ;  it 
causes  him  to  abound  in  hope ;  it  inspires  him  with  a  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory  ;  in  a  word,  it  constitutes  him 


304 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


"the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost."     Who  can  be  happy,  or 
tranquil,  if  the  Christian  cannot,  since  all  things  are  his 
and  he  is  Christ's,  and  Christ  is  God's  ? 

If  old  age  has  its  afflictions,  it  has  also  its  immunities. 
Take  care,  lest,  under  the  pressure  of  infirmity  and  afflic- 
tion, you  should  derogate  from  the  bounty  of  your  Maker 
and  despise  those  blessings  which  he  accounts  precious  ;' 
among  which  old  age  is  particularly  distinguished.     In 
what  a  variety  of  ways  has  he  pointed  out  the  value  which 
he  attaches  to  age !     See  it  in  the  title  which  he  assumes 
himself:  "The  Ancient  of  days."    See  it  in  the  judgment 
denounced  against  Eli :  "  There  shall  not  be  an  old  man  in 
thine  house  for  ever."     See  it  in  the  respect  and  reverence 
which  he  has  commanded  us  to  render  to  the  aged  :  "  Thou 
Shalt  rise  up  before  the  hoary  head,  and  honor  the  face  of 
the  old  man  :  I  am  the  Lord."     See  it  in  the  connection 
he  hath  marked  between  the  ancient  and  the  honorable  : 
"  The  hoary  head  is  a  crown  of  glory,  if  it  be  found  in  the 
way  of  righteousness."   Has  God  put  this  honor  upon  you  ; 
and  will  you,  because  of  the  trials  with  which  it  is  attended^ 
ungratefully  take  it  and  cast  it  to  the  earth  ?     If  the  incon- 
veniences you  experience  are  many,  you  have  also  corres- 
ponding advantages.     The  circle  of  your  enjoyment  is 
contracted ;  but  then  you  have  less  to  ensnare  your  affec- 
tions,  and  draw  you  away  from  God.     The  world  is  fadina 
from  your  view;  but  then  your  experience  of  its  vanity  and 
emptiness  leaves  you  nothing  to  regret  in  the  surrender  of 
It.     Few  remain  who  have  been  your  companions  in  the 
pilgrimage  of  life  ;  but  then  you  have  fewer  cords  to  bind 
you  down  to  earth,  and  a  stronger  inducement  to  press 
forward  toward  that  haven  of  repose,  where  you  shall  join 
them  agam,  "  to  know  separation  no  more."     Infirmity  and 
weakness  press  down  the  body ;  but  then  you  have  less  to 
contend  with  from  that  turbulence  of  passion,  and  vivacity 
of  spirit,  which  m  earlier  life  so  often  betrayed  you  into 


OLD   AGE  IN  AFFLICTION. 


305 


excess  and  indiscretion.     You  are  cut  off  from  the  active 
pursuits  of  life  ;  but  then  you  are  freed  from  the  toils  and 
anxieties  in   which  you  were  once  involved,  and  which 
were  so  bitterly  complained  of  as  hinderances  to  piety. 
You  arc  still  assailed  by  trials  and  temptations ;  but  then 
you  can  look  back  upon  the  perils  you  have  escaped,  upon 
the  tempests  in  which  you  have  been  preserved,  and  can 
gather  encouragement  from  a  long  and  varied  experience 
of  the  goodness  and  faithfulness  of  God.     The  feebleness 
of  increasing  years  has  benumbed  your  sensibilities,  and 
almost  rendered  you  incapable  of  relishing  the  mercies 
which  remain  ;  but  then  it  is  of  little  consequence  to  you, 
who  are  very  shortly  to  exchange  earth,  with  its  partial 
and  imperfect  comforts,  for  heaven,  with  its  eternal  and 
unutterable  joys.     You  are  compelled  to  spend  many  of 
your  hours  in  solitude,  or  wakefulness;  but  then  the  sphere 
of  your  observation  and  reflection  is  so  much  enlarged  by  a 
long  acquaintance  with  the  world,  and  with  the  ways  and 
works  of  God,  as  to  supply  within  itself  a  wide  range  of 
improving  thought.     The  changes  you  have  witnessed  in 
the  world  around  you ;  the  many  instructive  lessons  you 
have  received  in  your  intercourse  with  your  fellow-men ; 
the  various  incidents  which  have  occurred  in  your  progress 
through  life  ;  the  seasons  of  delightful  communion  you  have 
enjoyed  in  your  intercourse  with  God's  people ;  the  won- 
derful dealings  of  God  in  reference  to  yourselves  and  your 
connections  ;  the  numberless  instances  in  which  God  has 
enlarged  your  heart  in  distress,  delivered  you  in  danger, 
blessed  you  in  his  ordinances,  and  succored  you  in  tempta- 
tion and  despondency;  these  are  subjects  no  less  interesting 
than  instructive  and  consoling  to  the  mind.     For  such 
benefits  as  these,  have  you  not  cause  most  thankfully  to 
acknowledge  the  goodness  of  Heaven  ?   Do  they  not  afford 
you  ground  to  pass  the  remainder  of  your  days  in  resigna- 
tion and  peace  1     For  every  period  of  life  the  providence 


306 


OLD  AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


of  God  hath  prepared  its  own  satisfaction,  while  his  wisdom 
hath  appointed  its  peculiar  trials.  No  age  is  doomed  to 
infelicity.  He  judges  for  us  in  wisdom  and  tenderness, 
and  will  not  suffer  us  to  be  tried  above  what  we  are  able 
to  bear. 

Aged  Christians  have  the  promise  of  effectual  support, 
and  of  complete  deliverance.     In  youth,  saints  are  apt  to 
err  on  the  side  of  presumption ;   in  old  age  on  that  of 
despondency.    Remembering  how  difficult  they  have  found 
it  to  resist  temptation  and  to  bear  trials  in   former  days, 
they  shudder  at  the  idea  of  meeting  more  formidable  ones, 
with  which  they  must  struggle  with  impaired  strength  and 
enfeebled  powers ;  and  as  these  <]uestions  recur  to  their 
minds,  "If  thou  hast  run  with  the  footmen  and  they  have 
wearied  thee,  how  canst  thou  contend  with  horses  ?  and 
if  in  the  land  of  peace,  wherein  thou  trustedst,  they  wearied 
thee,  then  how  wilt  thou  do  in  the  swellings  of  Jordan  ?" 
many  gloomy  fears  and  painful  forebodings  are  apt  to  rise 
up  within  them.     But  the  grace  of  God  can  lit  you  for  all 
this,   and  much   more.      He   can   invigorate   the  fainting 
spirit.     He  will  sustain  you  when  staggering  under  your 
load.     In  temptation,  he  can  give  you  power  not  only  for 
resistance,  but  for  victory  ;  in  affliction,  grace  not  only  to 
be  patient,  but  cheerful ;  in  neglect  and  ill  usage,  he  can 
enable  you  not  only  to  exercise  meekness,  but  to  overcome 
evil  with  good ;  and  in  death,  he  can  not  only  calm  you 
with  resignation,  but  elevate  you  to  the  full  assurance  of 
hope.     But,  will  he  do  all  this  ?    Hear  his  own  words  : 
*'  Even  to  your  old  age  I  am  he  ;  and  even  to  hoar  hairs 
will  I  carry  you ;  I  have  made,  and  I  will  bear ;  even  I 
will  carry,  and  will  deliver  you."     It  is  remarkable  that  in 
this  encouraging  promise  the  idea  of  divine  support  is  re- 
peated not  less  than  three  times  :  "  I  will  carry" — "  I  will 
bear" — and  again  it  is  said,  "  I  will  carry."     It  is  common 
in  the  sacred  Scriptures,  when  blessings  are  promised  of 


OLD  AGE  IN   AFFLICTION. 


307 


superior  value,  or  which,  from  peculiar  circumstances,  we 
are  too  apt  to  think  unattainable,  for  the  promise  to  be 
marked  by  peculiar  strength  and  solemnity  of  expression, 
and  to  be  repeated  with  a  frequency  which  affectingly  indi- 
cates the  condescension  of  Heaven  to  human  weakness,  and 
powerfully  encourages  the  exercise  of  confidence  and  hope 
in  God.     So  it  is  here.     Knowing  the  gloom  and  despond- 
ency which  are  apt  to  overspread  the  mind  of  the  aged, 
divine  mercy  reiterates,  again  and  again,  the  assurance  of 
support  and  deliverance,  and  that  in  a  manner  the  most 
solemn  and  impressive.     Aged  sinner,  though  heavy  be 
your  affliction,  yet  lift  up  your  head  from   the  staff  on 
which  it  leans,  and  listen  to  the  voice  of  consolation.     Say 
not,  "  What  is  to  become  of  me  ?"     God  engages  to  be 
your  refuge  and  strength.     Without  his  aid,  the  most  intel- 
ligent and  powerful  of  his  creatures  cannot  stand ;  with  it, 
the  feeblest  shall  not  fail,  even  under  severe  and  length- 
ened affliction.     What  was  Paul's  support  in  a  time  of 
severe  trial  and  weakness  ?    "  My  grace  is  sufficient  for 
thee."     So  shall  it  be  with  you.     He  who  enabled  Paul  to 
rejoice  in  his  infirmities,  can  and  will  enable  you  to  do  so 
also.     And  he  who  is  with  you  in  old  age,  will  be  with 
you  to  eternity.    The  deliverances  which  you  have  already 
experienced  are  pledges  of  that  complete  salvation  which 
awaits  you  at  death  ;   a  salvation  which  shall  leave  no 
stain  upon  your  robe,  no  imperfection  in  your  nature,  no 
corruption  in  your  heart,  no  tear  in  your  eye,  no  evil  in 
your  lot;    a   salvation  which  shall  give  you  everlasting 
strength  for  decay,  the  perfection  of  beauty  for  wrinkles, 
"  the  oil  of  joy  for  mourning,  the  garments  of  praise  for 
the  spirit  of  heaviness."     The  valley  which  lies  between, 
you  have  to  cross  ;  it  may  appear  dark,  and  the  path  may 
appear  new  and  untrodden,  but  say  with  David,  "  I  will 
fear  no  evil :  for  thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff, 
they  comfort  me." 


308 


OLD  AOE  IN   AFFLICTION. 


The  consideration  of  the  nearness  of  salvation  should 
reconcile  you  to  affliction  and  death.  Be  your  aflliction 
ever  so  distressing — be  the  burden  of  infirmity,  sickness, 
sorrow,  and  desertion,  ever  so  heavy,  still  there  remains 
this  consolation — it  is  not  long  before  the  weary  shall  be 
at  rest.  Having  passed  through  so  many  of  the  toils  of 
life,  you  may  surely  now,  when  your  pilgrimage  is  coming 
to  a  close,  bear  without  impatience  the  hardships  of  its 
concluding  stage.  You  are  in  a  little  time  to  inherit  a 
kingdom,  and  will  you  complain  of  present  pains  and 
losses  ?  He  who  is  the  occupant  of  a  cottage,  though  it 
be  mean,  its  furniture  scanty,  and  the  winds  of  heaven 
blowing  through  its  shattered  roof  and  decayed  walls,  may 
well  submit  to  its  inconveniences,  if  to-morrow  he  is  to 
exchange  it  for  a  mansion.  The  mariner  who  has  been 
long  at  sea,  and  has  passed  through  innumerable  perils, 
when  he  comes  at  length  in  sight  of  his  native  land,  and 
sees  the  long-desired  haven  before  him,  thinks  not,  in  the 
joyous  anticipation  of  the  blessings  and  welcome  of  home, 
of  the  remaining  toils  that  must  intervene.  And  with 
heaven  fully  in  your  view,  can  you  complain  of  the  evils 
which  attend  the  last  stage  of  your  existence  here  ?  Though 
the  voice  of  sorrow  be  heard  in  the  house  of  your  pilgrim- 
age, the  mansions  of  joy  are  opening  to  receive  you,  and 
calling  you  to  the  melodies  of  eternal  peace.  At  every 
sigh  and  tear  you  may  say,  I  have  another  tear  less  to 
shed,  and  another  sigh  less  to  heave,  and  your  "  light 
affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  shall  work  out  for 
you  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory." 
Such  a  prospect  should  lead  you  to  regard  your  present 
trials  with  joyfulness,  and  death  itself  with  desire.  Could 
a  heathen  say,  *'  If  God  would  offer  me  the  choice  of 
renewing  my  age,  and  returning  to  my  first  childhood,  I 
should  heartily  refuse  it,  for  I  should  be  loth,  after  I  have 
passed  so  much  of  ray  race,  to  be  called  back  from  the 


OLD   AGE   IN   AFFLICTION. 


309 


goal  to  the  bars  of  my  first  setting  out ;"  and  shall  Chris- 
tians have  any  lingering  desires  to  continue  on  the  borders 
of  the  grave,  when  every  tie  which  connects  them  with 
life  is  broken  ?     Let  the  wicked  fear  to  die,  for  fearful  is 
the  fate  that  awaits  them ;  the  sorrows  they  endure  here 
are  but  the  beginning  of  their  woes ;   every  step  brings 
them  nearer,  not  only  to  the  grave,  but  to  the  eternal  gulf; 
they  are  hastening  where  there  is  darkness  and  no  light, 
sorrow  and  no  joy,  torment  and  no  end,  no  intermission  ; 
death  to  them  is  the  officer  sent  to  arrest  them,  and  to  de- 
liver them  to  the  Judge,  that  the  Judge  may  deliver  them 
to  the  tormentors ;  but  it  comes  to  you  in  a  different  form, 
as  a  black  messenger,  it  is  true,  but  still  a  messenger  of 
mercv,  sent  by  your  heavenly  Father  to  remove  you  from 
all  that  pains  and  oppresses  you,  and  to  introduce  you  to 
the  society  of  the  celestial  temple,  and  to  the  enjoyment 
of  the  paradise  of  God. 

How  blessed  is  your  condition  contrasted  with  tJuzt  of  the 
aged  transgressor !     How  many  there  are  of  this  descrip- 
tion !     It  is  always  affecting  to  contemplate  the  condition 
of  a  sinner.     The  most  attractive   circumstances  ought 
never  to  hide  from  our   view  the  fearful  destiny  which 
hangs   over  his  guilty  head.      When   surrounded  by  the 
splendors  of  wealth,  the  gayeties  of  pleasure,  and  the  flat- 
teries  of  the  world  ;  when  exhibiting  the  interest  of  youth, 
and  the  sprightliness  of  wit,  we  ought  not  to  forget  that 
these  circumstances  do  not  in  the  least  alter  his  condition 
in  relation  to  God,  nor  can  they  avert  the  punishment  that 
awaits  him.     But  in  the  case  of  the  aged  transgressor, 
who  has  become    gray  in  iniquity;    who,  throughout  a 
lengthened  life,  has  persisted  in  impenitence ;  whose  habits 
Of  irreligion  and  contempt  of  God  are  all  rooted  and  con- 
firmed  ;  who  is  seen  cleaving  to  sin,  even  when  the  power 
of  enjoyment  has   left  him  ;  who,  at  the  time  when  the 
world  is  forsaking  him,  still  clings  to  it  with  eager  and 


310 


OLD  AGE  IN  AFFLICTION". 


pertinacious  grasp,  and  evinces  an  anxiety  to  put  away  the 
thought  of  death  in  proportion  to  the  nearness  of  its  ap- 
proach ;  there  is  in  his  case  a  variety  of  circumstances 
peculiarly  affecting.     There  is  an  aggravation  connected 
with  his  guilt,  and  a  hopelessness  attaching  to  his  condi- 
tion, which  do  not  belong  to  the  earlier  stages  of  existence. 
On  him  the  mercies  of  a  lengthened  life  have  been  be- 
stowed in  vain  ;  multiplied  years  have  only  served  to  mul- 
tiply his  sins ;  life  is  coming  to  a  close,  and  yet  not  one 
day  has  been  spent  to  any  good  purpose  :  nothing  has  been 
done  for  the  soul  and  for  eternity.     Hope,  which  in  other 
cases  supports  us,  fails  us  here ;  for  how  difficult  is  the 
conversion  of  an  aged  transgressor  !    Miserable  is  his  situ- 
ation even  now.     Under  the  distresses  which  imbitter  old 
age  he  has  none  of  the  comforts  of  religion  to  support  him. 
His  nights  are  wakeful,  but  he  has  no  pleasing  recollections 
of  the  past  to  cheer  his  solitary  hours  ;  his  flesh  is  pained, 
but  he  has  no  consoling  prospects  in  future  to  mitigate  his 
sufferings.     Instead  of  having  reason  to  expect  relief  under 
his  burden  of  infirmity,  it  is  aggravated  by  a  sense  of  un- 
pardoned sin.     In  a  short  time  God  will  take  him  away 
from  the  frailties  of  age,  but  it  will  be  to  deliver  him  to  the 
pains  of  hell.     The  sins  of  a  long  life  must  be  answered 
for.     These  require  a  furnace  seven  times  hotter  than  usual, 
and  they  will  have  it.     This  life  has  been  a  treasuring  up 
of  wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath.     You  have  seen  the 
agonies  of  a  suffering  infant ;  and  did  not  the  thought  strike 
you.  If  original  sin  is  thus  punished,  what  do  the  trans- 
gressions of  a  long  life  deserve  ?     If  those  things  are  done 
in  the  green  tree,  what  will  be  done  in  the  dry  ?     It  is 
truly  painful  to  behold  such  characters  ;  and  from  them  the 
mmd  eagerly  turns  away  to  mark  the  aged  saint,  rich  in 
faith,  and  mature  in  holiness.     The  one  is  like  a  stagnant 
pool,  in  whose  dark  and  corrupt  waters  venomous  creatures 
have  been  multiplying,  and  rank  weeds  and  noisome  ex- 


OLD   AGE   IN  AFFLICTION. 


31 


halations  make  it  the  object  of  disgust ;  the  other  is  like 
the  stream  purifying  in  its  course,  and  flowing  onward 
to  the  sea  with  a  current  clear  yet  majestic.  Be  thankful, 
Christian  reader,  to  Him  who  hath  made  thee  thus  to  differ; 
ascribe  it  entirely  to  the  riches  of  God's  grace,  and  be  it 
your  great  concern  that  the  last  portion  of  your  existence 
may,  beyond  every  preceding  one,  tend  to  "  show  forth  the 
praises  of  Him  who  hath  called  you  out  of  darkness  into 
marvelous  light." 


312 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 

If  sin  be  pardon'd  I'm  secure,  • 

Death  has  no  sting  beside ; 
The  law  gives  sin  its  dreaded  power, 

But  Christ  for  sin  hath  died. 

"  THOUGH  I  WALK  THROUGH  THE  VALLEY  OF  THE  SHADOW  OF  DEATH, 
I  WILL  FEAR  NO  EVIL:  FOR  THOU  ART  WITH  ME;  THY  ROD  AND  THY 
STAFF  THEY  COMFORT  ME."-  Psalm  xxiii,  4. 

Death  is  an  event  which  it  is  impossible  for  the  human 
jnind  to  contemplate  with  indifference:  in  itself  it  is  awful, 
the  object  of  instinctive  aversion  ;  everything  that  has  life 
flees  from  it,  and  manifests  the  primary  aim  of  all  its  powers 
and  faculties  to  be  preservation,  or  the  avoidance  of  that 
state  which  terminates  existence.  Dreadful  as  death  is 
to  all  sentient  beings  that  move  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  it 
is  yet  more  dreadful  to  man,  because  by  the  gift  of  reason  he 
is  qualified  to  reflect  on  its  evils  ;  and  as  to  him  existence 
is  more  dignified,  so  it  is  more  sweet,  and  he  clings  to  it 
with  proportionate  tenaciousness.  To  resign  this  pleasing 
conscious  being,  and  to  die,  is  a  revolting  thought.  Who 
hath  not  trembled  in  the  anticipation ;  who  hath  not  felt 
unutterable  emotions  as  he  hath  beheld  the  victim  of  death 
stretched  forth  in  humiliation  and  helplessness  ?  for  how 
much  there  is  in  death  to  excite  melancholy  and  dread ! 
There  is  the  novelty  of  the  case.  Who  knows  what  it  is 
to  die  ?  No  one  has  ever  returned  from  the  struggle  to 
tell  us  what  is  meant  by  a  conflict  with  the  last  enemy,  and 
our  own  experience  can  furnish  us  with  no  assistance ;  ima- 
gination, therefore,  which  usually  magnifies  an  unknown 
evil,  is  left  to  cherish  its  worst  and  most  gloomy  antici- 
pations. There  is  a  dissolution  of  our  connection  with 
the  present  world  ;  with  all  those  scenes  with  which  we 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


313 


have  been  sensibly  conversant,  and  of  which  alone  we 
have  any  clear  and  adequate  ideas ;  and  with  all  those 
endeared  objects  to  whom  nature  or  friendship  hath  inti- 
mately united  our  hearts,  and  from  whom  to  be  separated 
13  as  the  rending  asunder  of  our  own  flesh.  There  is  the 
destruction  of  the  body,  that  marvelous  fabric,  which  in 
its  contrivance  and  execution  displays,  in  so  striking  a 
manner,  the  wisdom  and  skill  of  the  great  Creator.  How 
awful  the  stroke  which  dislodges  the  soul  from  its  earthly 
tabernacle,  and  reduces  the  body,  now  warm  and  animated, 
and  which  we  can  hardly  look  upon  without  regarding  it 
as  our  very  self,  into  a  lifeless  clod,  a  foul  mass  of  cor- 
ruption and  rottenness!  There  are  all  the  fearful  harbingers 
of  dissolution.  Death  is  usually  preceded  by  agonizing 
pains  and  afflictions.  The  house  must  be  shaken  before 
it  comes  down.  The  fortress  must  be  assaulted  before  a 
breach  can  be  effected.  The  vessel  must  be  tossed  by  the 
storm  before  it  is  broken  to  pieces.  These  are  circum- 
stances afflictive  in  themselves,  but  peculiarly  fearful  as 
precursors  of  this  great  adversary.  There  is,  too,  all  that 
follows  death.  It  is  the  gate  of  eternity.  It  conducts  us 
into  the  presence  of  the  just  and  holy  One.  It  places  us 
before  the  tribunal  of  divine  justice.  It  connects  us  either 
with  heaven  or  hell,  and  affixes  to  our  destiny  the  seal  of 
eternal  happiness,  or  eternal  wo.  No  wonder,  therefore, 
that  men  should  regard  it  with  apprehension  and  repug- 
nance, and  that  through  the  fear  o(  death  they  should  be 
all  their  lifetime  subject  to  bondage.  Some,  indeed,  dis- 
play a  total  carelessness  respecting  it,  but  this  is  often  more 
affected  than  real ;  they  assume  a  kind  of  sportiveness  and 
levity,  for  the  purpose  o(  proving  how  devoid  they  are  of 
fear,  when  in  fact  it  is  the  result  of  its  prevalence.  So  the 
school-boy  passes  the  church-yard, 

"  Whistling  aloud  to  keep  his  courage  up." 

14 


314 


AFFLICTION   IN   THE   PROSPECT   OF   DEATH. 


But  when  death  actually  presents  itself  before  them, 
then  their  boasted  courage  fails,  then  fear  conies  upon 
them  like  an  armed  man,  and  their  terror  is  proportioned 
to  their  former  levity  and  carelessness.  There  are  others 
■who  seem  to  live  regardless  of  death,  in  consequence  of  a 
studious  endeavor  to  keep  the  subject  out  of  sight.  It  is 
their  constant  solicitude  to  banish  it  to  a  distance.  They 
put  far  from  them  the  evil  day.  They  try  to  drown  all 
reflections  on  their  mortality  amidst  the  anxieties  of  busi- 
ness, the  vicissitudes  of  pleasure,  and  the  excitement  of 
company.  But  who  can  be  always  engaged  ?  Who  can 
succeed  entirely  in  keeping  out  of  sight  a  dreaded  and  a 
hated  object  ?  How  many  events  are  occurring  dayly  to 
obtrude  upon  our  minds  the  frailty  of  our  nature,  and  the 
assurance  that  we  too  must  die  ;  and  the  uneasiness  of 
mind  which  is  evinced  when  the  subject  is  forced  upon 
their  revolting  attention,  shows  how  much  they  are  haunted 
by  the  dread  of  death.  Some  there  are  who  by  infidelity, 
vain  reasonings,  and  dissipation,  succeed  in  preserving  a 
kind  of  composure  to  the  last;  they  carry  a  heedless 
spirit  even  to  their  dying  bed  ;  the  insensibility  which  has 
marked  their  life,  characterizes  their  death  also  ;  and  by 
their  mistaken  and  ill-judging,  or  perhaps  deceiving  friends, 
they  are  represented  as  dying  like  lambs,  when  the  only 
lamb-like  characteristic  they  exhibit  is  a  strange  sense- 
lessness and  stupidity  of  mind.  This  final  insensibility  may 
be  partly  induced  by  disease,  which  weakens  the  capacity 
of  thinking,  and  prevents  them  from  coming  to  a  just  con- 
clusion concerning  their  past  conduct,  their  present  con- 
dition, or  their  future  prospects.  Nor  is  it  unreasonable 
to  believe,  that  this  may  be  the  rcsuU  of  a  judicial  dispen- 
sation of  God.  We  know  that  he  has  given  men  up  "  to 
strong  delusion  that  they  should  believe  a  lie."  In  what 
case  can  such  a  dispensation  be  supposed  with  more  pro- 
priety, than  in  that  of  gross,  long-continued,  and  obstinate 


AFFLICTION   IN   THE  PROSPECT  OF   DEATH.  315 

• 

sin,  perpetrated  by  a  heart  hardening  itself  in  iniquity 
through  life  ?    The  fear  of  death  is  naturally  unavoidable, 
and  must,  therefore,  of  itself  be  innocent ;  it  operates  uni- 
versally, on  every  part  of  the  brute  creation  as  well  as  on 
every  individual  of  the  human  race  ;  perpetually,  under  all 
circumstances,  the  most  distressing  as  well  as  the  most 
pleasing,   and   with  a   force   peculiar  to  itself.     But  this 
instinctive  repulsion  in  man  is  not  merely  the  natural  dread 
of  suflering  ;  it  is  produced  also  by  a  sense  of  guilt,  and  a 
painful  apprehension  of  punishment.      Thfise   constitute 
what  the  apostle  Paul  calls  death's  sting.     It  is  felt  most 
by  him  who  is  most  aware  of  the  sad  truth  and  reality  of 
his  condition.     If  men  succeed  in  blunting  its  point,  it  is 
through  a  delusion  which  makes  their  case  the  more  hope- 
less;   while  the    calm   which   is   thus    obtained   is   only 
temporary,  and  resembles  that  death-like  stillness  which 
sometimes  precedes  an  earthquake.     Never  can  death  be 
encountered  with  tranquillity,  and  confidence,  and  hope, 
until  its  sting  is  extracted  by  the  free  and  full  forgiveness 
of  all  our  sins.     When  we  have  just  ground  for  concluding 
that  our  peace  is  made  with  God,  when   we  possess  a 
clear  sense  of  pardoning  and  sanctifying  mercy,  enjoy  the 
love  of  God  shed  abroad  in  our  heart,  and  can  look  to  him 
as  our  protector  and  friend,  then  may  we  imitate  the  faith 
and  hope  of  the  Psalmist,  "  Yea,  though  I  walk  through 
the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  I  will  fear  no  evil,  for 
thou  art  with  me  ;  thy  rod  and  thy  staff  they  comfort  me." 
O,  how  many  of  the  Lord's  people  have  left  the  world 
with  peace  and  joy  !    O,  how  much  of  heaven  has  breathed 
in  their  spirit  and  conversation  !    They  have  died  full  of 
holy  confidence  and  rejoicing.     Longing  to  depart,  they 
have  cried,  "  Come,  Lord  Jesus,  come  quickly."     This  is 
commonly  the  case  with  those  who  die  in  the  Lord.     It 
has  been  the  case  even  with  martyrs,  with  those  who  have 
had  to  encounter  death  in  its  most  terrifying  forms ;  men, 


I 


316 


AFFLICTION   IN   THE   PROSPECT  OF   DEATIT. 


women,  and  children,  have  embraced  the  stake,  and  wel- 
comed the  flames  with  joy  and  exultation.  It  has  been 
the  case  not  merely  with  the  poor,  the  despised,  the  out- 
cast, but  with  such  as  have  had  everything  agreeable  in 
their  condition,  and  attractive  in  their  connections.  They 
have  said  to  those  whom  they  were  leaving,  "You  are 
dear ;  many  are  the  comforts  I  have  realized  in  your  so- 
ciety, and  in  your  kind  and  affectionate  attentions  ;  yon 
are  loved  as  the  kind  gifts  of  a  gracious  Saviour  ;  but  I  am 
going  from  the  gifts  to  the  giver,  from  the  streams  to  the 
fountain.  I  leave  you  to  find  infinitely  more  in  Christ.'' 
And  so  clear  have  been  their  prospects,  so  lively  and  ani- 
mating their  foretastes  of  future  bliss,  so  abundant  have 
been  their  consolations,  and  so  firm  their  confidence,  that, 
filled  with  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory,  they  have 
exclaimed  with  surprise — 


"  Tell  me,  my  soul,  can  this  be  death  ? 


»» 


Yea,  this  has  often  been  the  case  with  those  who,  during 
their  lifetime,  have  been  the  subjects  of  distressing  doubts 
and  fears.  When  the  trying  hour  has  arrived,  they  have 
had  grace  according  to  their  day ;  the  darkness,  which  in 
the  distance  excited  so  much  alarm,  has  been  gradually 
dispersed  as  they  have  approached  ;  the  spot  which  they 
feared  would  prove  the  scene  of  their  defeat,  has  become 
the  scene  of  their  triumph  ;  and  they  have  left  the  world, 
t'xclaiming,  "  O  death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  O  grave,  where 
is  thy  victory  ?  Thanks  be  unto  God,  who  givcth  us  the 
victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."  Still,  it  must  be 
admitted,  that  death  often  becomes  a  source  of  temptation 
to  those  who  are  endeavoring  to  prepare  for  it.  Though 
death  may  be  rendered  harmless,  yet  its  appearance  is 
always  repulsive.  It  is  still  a  declaration  of  God's  dis- 
pleasure against  sin,  and  naturally  excites  anxiety  an^I 
forebodings.     The  prospects  on  the  other  side  of  Jordan 


AFFLICTION  IN   THE  PROSPECT  OF   DEATH.  317 

may  be  attractive  and  animating,  and  yet  the  sight  of  its 
deep  and  troubled  waters  may  cause  an  inward  shrinking. 
When  David  says,  "  I  will  fear  no  evil,"  he  speaks  of  his 
anticipation  as  an  attainment,  and  intimates  that  the  fear 
which  he  was  enabled  to  defy  was  much  connected  with 
the  event  itself.  Let  us  look  at  the  case,  and  see  what 
are  the  remedies  which  the  gospel  supplies  to  those  who 
place  their  trust  in  Christ  Jesus. 

Christ  has  taken  from  death  its  fearful  curse.     If  divine 
grace  had  not  interposed,  death  has  a  sting  with  which  he 
would  pierce  every  transgressor,  and  send  him  to  a  state 
of  interminable  misery.     "  The  sting  of  death  is  sin,  and 
the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law."     Death  derives  its  wound- 
ing power  from  sin,  and  sin  from  the  law  that  forbids  it, 
that  discovers  its  nature,  and  denounces  its  punishment. 
That  punishment  consists  not  merely  in  the  dissolution  of 
the  body,  but  also  in  the  death  of  the  soul ;  that  is,  the  per- 
petual loss  of  all  hope,  an  exclusion  from  the  favor  and 
presence  of  God,  and  a  sense  of  his  eternal  wrath,  which 
burns  like  a  devouring  fire.     It  was  impossible  that  this 
curse  should  be  removed  unless  some  one  could  be  found 
to  expiate  our  offenses,  and,  by  becoming  our  surety,  to 
bear  away  the  penalty  from  us  by  sustaining  it  himself. 
This  Christ  undertook,  and  this  he  effected  by  his  incar- 
nation   and   sufferings.      His    incarnation   rendered   him 
capable  of  suffering,  while  his  sufferings  derived  such  an 
infinite  value  and  dignity  from  his  divinity,  that  his  death 
was  equivalent  to  the  destruction  of  all  our  race  ;  and,  in 
iieu  of  our  perdition,  it  was  accepted  as  "  an  offering  and 
a  sacrifice  to   God  of  a  sweet-smelling  savpr."     Every 
moral  purpose  that  could  have  been  answered  by  the  pun- 
ishment of  the  sinner  has  been  better  subserved  by  the 
death  of  the  Saviour  :  "  There  is,  therefore,  now  no  con- 
demnation to  them  that  are  in  Christ  Jesus,  who  walk  not 
after  the  flesh  but  after  the  Spirit ;  for  the  law  of  the  Spirit 


318 


AFFLICTION    IN   THE   PROSPECT  OF    DEATH. 


of  life  in  Christ  Jesus  hath  made  us  free  from  the  law  of 
sin  and  death."  Though  death  remains,  yet  to  them  it  is 
no  longer  penal  ;  they  have  no  fear  of  the  consequences, 
from  which  comes  the  deepest  sting.  "  Christ  hath  re- 
deemed them  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a 
curse  for  them."  But  it  may  be  asked,  If  Christ  has  re- 
deemed them,  bearing  their  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the 
tree,  and  they  are  justified  by  his  blood,  and  saved  from 
wrath  by  him,  why  do  they  yet  die  ?  To  which  I  answer. 
They  die  as  they  suffer  affliction.  Affliction  is  not  a  judi- 
cial visitation,  but  corrective  and  medicinal ;  and  though, 
like  all  natural  evil,  derived  originally  from  sin,  yet,  as 
God  employs  it,  it  is  the  effect  and  token  of  his  love. 
Christ  has  abolished  death,  so  far  as  it  is  a  curse,  and 
thus  the  Christian  does  not  die  ;  hence  in  the  Scriptures 
the  death  of  the  saints  is  called  a  sleep.  Saint  Paul  ar- 
gues, "  If  we  believe  that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even 
so  them  also  that  sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him." 
It  is  observable  how  the  apostle  varies  the  expression, 
Jesus  died,  and  the  saints  sleep  in  him  ;  for  he  sustained 
death  in  all  its  terrors,  that  it  might  be  a  calm  sleep  to  his 
people.  Sleep  has  nothing  formidable  in  it ;  a  weary  man, 
after  a  day  of  toil,  feels  no  reluctance  to  lie  down  on  his 
bed  :  such  is  the  representation  given  of  a  believer's  death 
in  the  Scriptures,  and  it  is  so  essentially  just,  that  it  is 
said  of  Stephen,  though  he  suffered  a  death  of  violence, 
"  he  fell  asleep."  Yes,  being  reconciled  to  God  through 
the  blood  of  Christ,  they  have  nothing  to  apprehend  from 
death,  but  with  sweet  tranquillity  may  resign  their  souls 
into  the  hands  of  their  Redeemer  :  "  Lord,  now  lettest  thou 
thy  servant  depart  m  peace,  for  mine  eyes  have  seen  thy 
salvation."  When  de.ath  comes  to  such,  he  sometimes 
puts  on  an  air  of  stem  severity,  produces  a  warrant  from 
the  law,  the  purport  of  which  is,  "  The  soul  that  sinneth 
it  shall  die ;"  and  then,  seizing  them  by  the  throat,  cries. 


AFFLICTION    IN   THE  PROSPECT  OF   DEATH. 


319 


«  Pay  me  that  thou  owest ;"  but  they  can  view  the  pro- 
cedure without  dismay,  and  reply  with  holy  confidence, 
« Thou  hast  no  demand  on  me ;  what  the  law  saith   it 
saith  to  them  that  are  under  the  law,  but  I  am  not  under 
the  law  but  under  grace  ;  and  ^  who  shall  lay  anything  to 
the  charge  of  God's  elect  ?    It  is  God  that  justifieth,  who  is 
he  that  condemneth?     It  is  Christ  that  died    Y^a  rather, 
that  is  risen  again,  who  is  even  at  the  right  hand  of  God 
who  also  maketh  intercession  for  us.' "     This  it  is  which 
made  a  dying  Christian  say,  "  Dying  in  Christ  is  nothmg ; 
and  this  it  is  that  enables  the  believer  to  triumph  over 
death,  to  smile  in  death,  and  with  his  last  quivering  breath 
to  ask,  "  O  death,  where  is  thy  stmg?" 

Death  is  not  an  untrodden  path.     If  you  were  the  on  y 
person  in  the  world  exposed  to  death,  you  might  naturally 
look  upon  it  with  terror,  as  upon  some  strange  and  unknown 
thing  that  was  to  happen  to  you ;  but  it  is  the  way  appoin^d 
"  for  all  living."     "  Fear  not  the  sentence  of  death,    says 
the  son  of  Sirach  ;  "  remember  them  that  have  been  before 
thee,  and  that  come  after ;  for  this  is  the  sentence  of  the 
Lord  upon  all  flesh;  and  why  art  thou  against  the  plea- 
sure  of  the  Most  High  ?"     It  is  a  way  that  has  been  trod- 
den  by  all  who  lived  before  us  ;  hy  all  the  servants  of  GcJ 
-Enoch  and  Elijah  alone  excepted.    "  Abraham  is  dead, 
and  the  prophets"  are  dead.     Many  of  our  acquaintance, 
many,  it  may  be,  of  our  dearest  friends  and  relatives,  have 
passed  before  us  through  the  dark  valley  ;  and  why  should 
we  fear  to  follow  in  the  same  path  in  which  they  have 
traveled  ?     The  same  divine  mercy   and  protection,  the 
same  rod  and  staff  which  supported  and  comforted  those 
who  have  died  in  the  faith  and  love  of  God,  are  ready  to 
support  and  comfort  us  also,  if  we,  through  the  grace  of 
God,  are  partakers  of  their  faith  and  patience.     The  bodil) 
pain  of  dying  is  by  many  viewed  with  alarm,  although, 
'perhaps,  backward  to  confess  it;  but  this,  m  many  in- 


320 


AFFLICTION   IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


{stances,  is  so  slight  as  scarcely  to  be  perceptible.  With 
many  it  is  nothing  more  than  gently  falling  into  a  deep 
sleep,  from  which  they  do  not  awake  in  this  world.  Some, 
whose  bodies  have  been  worn  out  by  sickness  and  infirmity, 
at  length  gradually  cease  to  breathe,  and  descend  into  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  almost  without  being  aware 
of  it.  Sometimes,  no  doubt,  the  pangs  of  death  are  pain- 
ful and  severe ;  but  when  acute  they  are  generally  soon 
over,  and  probably  in  most  cases  are  not  sharper  than  what 
have  been  repeatedly  endured  in  some  period  of  life.  But, 
however  severe,  we  know  they  will  be  as  nothing  to  those 
who  are  animated  by  faith  in  Jesus,  who  enjoy  his  presence, 
and  the  supports  of  his  grace,  and  who  possess  a  hope  full 
of  immortality.  We  know  that  Christian  martyrs  in  the 
first  ages  of  the  church,  and  many  who  in  different  ages 
since  then  have  suffered  death  for  the  cause  of  Jesus, 
not  only  met  their  sufferings  fearlessly,  but  even  with 
desire.  They  were  enabled  to  rest  their  faith  so  steadfastly 
upon  the  Captain  of  their  salvation,  who  was  himself  made 
perfect  through  suffering,  and  to  fix  their  minds  so  intently 
upon  the  glory  that  awaited  them,  that  they  seemed  hardly 
to  feel  the  excruciating  tortures  to  which  they  were  ex- 
posed. They  felt  that  their  light  affliction,  which  would 
endure  comparatively  but  for  a  moment,  was  working  out  for 
them  "  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory." 
One  of  these,  when  informed  by  his  jailer  that  he  would 
have  to  suffer  on  the  following  day,  instantly  knelt  down, 
and  exclaimed,  "  I  thank  thee,  O  God,  that  thou  art  at  length 
about  to  confer  upon  mc  an  honor  I  have  so  much  desired.** 
Did  they  triumph  in  the  prospect  of  death  when  surrounded 
by  every  circumstance  of  terror,  and  shall  we  faint  in  the 
prospect  of  enduring  the  ordinary  death  of  men  ?  They 
died  in  the  midst  of  enemies :  you  will  die  probably  in 
the  midst  of  friends.  Theirs  was  a  bed  of  fire :  O  what 
a  contrast  is  yours,  made  smooth  and  soft  by  the  hand  of 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


321 


unwearied  affection  !  They  saw  nothing  in  their  last  mo- 
ments but  the  glaring  eyes  of  their  infuriated  murderers ; 
but  you  arc  surrounded  by  kind  and  sympathizing  friends. 
Their  ears  heard  no  sounds  but  those  of  rage  and  enmity  : 
yours  are  favored  with  the  expressions  of  love  and  duty. 
Their  pains  were  unmitigated  by  any  earthly  comfort ; 
but  you  have  many  alleviations  to  assuage  your  sufferings, 
and  to  sweeten  the  bitterness  of  death.  How  ought  these 
considerations  to  check  every  fearful  and  repining  emotion, 
and  to  inspire  confidence  and  gratitude ! 

All  the  circumstances  of  our  death  are  under  the  control  of 
Christ.    This  is  a  consideration  well  calculated  to  dissipate 
our  anxieties,  and  to  fortify  our  courage.     It  should  remove 
all  solicitude  as  to  the  time  of  our  departure.    If  the  aflllic- 
tion  should  terminate  in  death,  it  is  the  appointment  of  in- 
finite wisdom  and  love— it  is  because  the  Saviour  in  whom 
we  trust  is  summoning  us  away.     Shall  we  then  rebel 
against  his  appointment  ?     Shall  we  impugn  the  wisdom 
or  the  kindness  of  his  determination?    Or,  ignorant  as  we 
are  of  what  is  before  us  in  the  world,  and  what  really  con- 
cerns our  best  interests,  can  we  entertain  the  wish,  that 
the  power  of  determining  the   time    of  our  death  were 
wrested  out  of  his  hands,  and  placed  in  our  own  ?     True, 
we  may  have  many  ties  that  attach  us  to  the  world ;  we 
may  be  called  away  in  the  midst  of  our  earthly  engagements 
and  pursuits,  when  life  may  appear  to  be  most  desirable ; 
we  may  have  a  young  and  dependent  family,  whom  we  are 
loth  to  leave  behind  us  to  the  cold  charities  of  the  world ; 
we  may  have  many  dependents  on  our  industry,  or  charity, 
who  may  bitterly  regret  our  loss  ;  but  do  we  imagine  that 
these  considerations  are  unknown  to  Christ,  or  that  he  has 
not  weighed  them  all  ?  and  if,  notwithstanding,  it  be  his 
will  to  summon  us  away,  ought  we  not  to  yield  up  our 
judgment  to  his  1     It  should  remove  all  anxiety  as  to  the 
circumstances  of  our  departure.     We  know  as  little  of  the 

14* 


322 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


manner,  as  of  the  time  of  our  death.  It  may  be  that  we 
shall  quit  the  world  with  ease,  or  with  difliculty ;  by  a 
sudden  stroke,  or  by  protracted  suffering ;  we  may  be 
vividly  conscious,  or  in  a  state  of  partial  aberration,  or  total 
insensibility.  These  possibilities  are  apt  to  be  converted 
by  a  melancholy  temperament  into  food  for  anxious  dis- 
quietude and  fretting  care  ;  but  does  it  matter,  after  all, 
in  what  circumstances  we  die  ?  They  must  in  all  cases 
be  known  to  Him  in  whose  wisdom  we  confide,  and  of 
whose  interest  in  our  welfare  we  have  the  strongest  assu- 
rance. He  watches  over  the  dissolution  of  his  people  ; 
and  keeps  his  eye,  not  only  on  the  busy  scenes  of  life, 
but  also  on  the  secret  mysteries  of  death.  Unknown,  then, 
as  are  the  circumstances  under  which  you  must  finally  leave 
the  world,  you  may  venture  to  commit  yourself  into  his 
hands.  Nothing  connected  with  your  dissolution  can  hap- 
pen by  chance  ;  neither  can  it  be  the  result  of  capricious- 
ness,  or  neglect ;  for  everything  flows  from  that  unerring 
wisdom  whose  counsels  are  formed  on  a  view  of  all  pos- 
sible relations  and  consequences,  whether  as  to  visible  or 
invisible,  the  present  or  the  future  states  of  being  ;  and  of 
that  unvarying  love  which  always  selects  that  which  is 
the  best  promotive  of  the  real  welfare  of  the  saints. 

We  have  not  to  pass  through  the  valley  of  death  alone. 
It  is  true  that  the  society  of  all  earthly  friends  we  must 
leave  behind  us.  Friends  and  family  may  stand  around 
our  couch,  and  watch  the  progress  of  dissolution ;  but  they 
cannot  accompany  us,  neither  are  they  sensible  of  what 
we  feel,  nor  able  in  any  way  to  help  or  deliver  us.  The 
spirit  departs  alone  ;  and  in  that  awful  hour  of  separation 
from  human  fellowship,  in  that  solitude  of  death,  when 
placed  on  the  verge  of  the  invisible  world,  we  know  that 
all  behind  must  be  forsaken,  and  are  ignorant  of  what  we 
may  meet  with  as  we  advance — how  consolatory  to  reflect 
that  there  is  one  Being  who  will  not  forsake  us,  who  will 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


323 


take  US  up   when  other  friends  forsake  us,  or  must  be 
left  behind  ;  and  he  has  power,  absolute  power,  over  all 
our  spiritual  foes.     He  has  himself  drunk  the  cup  before 
us   and  tasted  the  bitterness  ;  he  has  traveled  through  the 
dark  valley,  and  knows  every  inch  of  the  road  ;  and  knows 
bv  experience  what  strength  and  succor  we  need  in  that 
d'readful  hour.    Dark,  then,  as  is  the  passage,  and  unknown 
as  are   its  dangers   and  pains,  surely  we  may  venture  to 
commit  ourselves  into  his  hands  ;  so  long  as  we  can  rely 
on  the  certainty  of  his  presence  and  support,  we  can  have 
no  just  cause  for  fear.     He  will  not,  he  cannot,  fail  us.     He 
stands  at  the  gate  of  death  ready  to  receive  us,  to  disperse 
the  darkness,  to  establish  our  faith,  to  enliven  our  hope, 
and  to  make  all  grace  abound  toward  us  in  ^^- ^^^J^ 
need  •  and  as  we  approach,  he  whispers  into  the  soul, 
^-  Fear  not,  for  I  am  thy  God;  I  will  strengthen  thee;  yea, 
I  will  uphold  thee  by  the  right  hand  of  my  righteousness. 

Death  possesses  only  a  partial  and  IMed  power.     It  ex- 
tends  only  over  the  corporeal  and  mortal  part  of  oiir  nature 
-it   cannot   hold  or  detain  the   immortal  spirit.     Some 
have,  indeed,  imagined  that  the  soul  remains  m  an  uncon- 
scious state  from  the  period  of  death  until  the  morning  of 
,he  resurrection,  and  have  endeavored  to  support  this  ex- 
traordinary hypothesis  by  the  reasonings  of  an  "nhallo-ed 
philosophy ;    for  is   not   that   an  unhallowed  philosophy 
which  respects  not  the  dictates  of  Christianity,  and  allows 
itself  to  be  guided  by  the  inspired  writers  so  far  as  they 
sanction  its  own  speculations,  but  when  there  is  any  dis- 
^elent,   assumes  that  itself  is  the  infallible  guide  to 
truths     The  conscious  existence  of  the  soul  after  death 
has  been  denied  by  some  persons  who  have  Professed  to 
receive   the  Christian  system  ;   and  this  shows  the   e. 
consequences  of  indulging  the  daring  and  1-entious  habit 
of  philosophizing  on  subjects  which  are  determined  by  the 
Scriptures      I  will  not  interrupt  your  better  feehngs  b> 


324 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT  OF  DEATH. 


325 


any  attempt  to  lead  you  into  the  gloomy  labyrinth  of  contro- 
versy. It  is  sufficient  to  remark,  that  Christ  and  his 
apostles  inculcated  a  system  unspeakably  more  interesting. 
They  have  placed  the  subject  beyond  all  doubt.  It  would 
be  so  much  of  a  detraction  if  we  could  suppose  the  soul  of 
any  saint  to  cease  to  be  conscious  of  the  presence  of  God, 
or  of  its  own  existence,  for  one  or  more  ages ;  but  the 
Scriptures  inspire  other  views.  Jesus  said  to  the  penitent 
thief, "  This  day  shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  paradise."  When 
Stephen  closed  his  eyes  under  the  stones  of  his  murderers, 
he  prayed,  "  Lord  Jesus,  receive  my  spirit."  Paul  believed 
that  to  be  absent  from  the  body  was  to  be  "  present  with 
the  Lord  ;"  and  he  desired  "  to  depart  and  to  be  with 
Christ,"  which,  he  says,  "is  far  better."  Now  if  the 
apostle  did  not  believe  that  his  soul  would  be  immediately 
with  Christ,  his  language  was  perfectly  unintelligible ; 
for  by  dying  he  would  have  been  no  sooner  with  Christ 
than  he  would  by  remaining  alive,  as  to  time ;  nor  so  near 
as  to  enjoyment,  for  here  he  had  access  to  him,  and  inter- 
course with  him.  The  death  of  the  saint,  then,  is  but  par- 
tial. As  in  the  ceremony  of  purification  from  leprosy,  one 
bird  was  killed,  and  the  other  left  to  fly  in  the  open  air, 
the  mysterious  shadow  of  the  leper  being  restored  to  a  state 
of  liberty  ;  so  when  the  body  dies,  and  returns  to  the  earth, 
the  emancipated  soul  flies  to  the  Father  of  spirits,  the 
fountain  of  life.  The  death  of  a  saint  is  a  new  birth,  and 
the  pains  he  experiences  are  the  throes  by  which  the 
ripened  soul  is  delivered  into  the  land  of  the  living,  and 
introduced  into  the  immediate  presence  of  Jesus.  O  de- 
lightful thought,  "to  be  absent  from  the  body  is  to  be 
present  with  the  Lord !"  No  longer  "  to  see  through  a 
glass  darkly,  but  face  to  face."  No  longer  to  "  know  in 
part,"  but  to  know  even  as  we  are  known :  to  see  Jesus  as 
he  is  :  to  fall  down  before  the  Lamb  ;  and  to  ascribe  to  him 
blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power,  for  ever  and  ever ! 


Death  will  be  productive  of  immense   advantage.     The 
Scriptures   teach  us  that  to  the   believer  death  is  gain. 
Death  as  well  as  life  is  included  in  the  covenant  of  God's 
grace.     "  All  things  are  yours,"  says  an  apostle,  "  whether 
life  or  death."     That  last  enemy,  through  heavenly  love, 
is  constrained  to  become  a  friend.     To  the  Christian,  death 
terminates  his  labors  and  his  dangers,  concludes  his  trials 
and  his  conflicts  ;  it  realizes  to  him  his  largest  hopes,  puts 
him  in  complete  possession  of  those  blessings  to  which  in 
prospect  he  has  long  looked  forward ;  turns  his  faith  into 
sight,  his  hope  into  enjoyment,  and  admits  him  to  the  full 
and  unrestrained  participation  of  those  rivers  of  pleasure, 
of  which  in  this  life  he  has  experienced  only  occasional 
and  limited  supplies.     O,  what  a  contrast  does  every  de- 
parting saint  experience  as  he  passes  by  death  from  time 
to  eternity— from  this  world,  with  all  its  cares  and  sorrows, 
to  the  bliss  and  glory  of  the  heavenly  inheritance  !     How- 
ever "  meetened  for  their  inheritance,"  however  "  wrought 
for  the  self-same  thing,"  yet  the  transition  from  the  extreme 
of  weakness  and  sufiering— from  the  overwhelming  abase- 
ment and  rending  struggle  of  the  mortal  strife,  into  the 
.sudden  brightness  and   perfect  rapture   of  the   heavenly 
vision,  and  this,  too,  in  "  a  moment,  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye  ;"  such  a  transition  it  is  impossible  to  describe,  for  the 
single   step  appropriates  heaven,  and  the  single  moment 
commences  eternity. 

"In  vain  our  feeble  fancy  paints 
The  moment  after  death, 
The  glory  that  surrounds  the  saints 
When  yielding  up  their  breath. 

One  gentle  sigh  their  fetters  breaks ; 

We  scarce  can  say  they're  gone, 
Before  the  willing  spirit  takes 

Her  naansion  near  the  throng." 


326 


AFFLICTION    IN   THE   PROSPECT   OF   DEATH. 


Gaze  on  the  expiring — the  glorified  Christian  :  at  one 
moment  seized  by  death ;  the  next  free  from  its  grasp  for 
ever !  At  one  moment  filled  with  the  deep  consciousness 
of  imperfection  and  manifold  infirmities  ;  the  next  standing 
unblamable  and  unreprovable  in  the  sight  of  God'  At 
one  moment  racked  by  pain,  and  wasted  by  disease ;  the 
next  putting  forth  the  vigor  of  immortal  youth !  At  one 
moment  what  all  must  pity  ;  the  next  what  all  must  envy  ! 
At  one  moment  surrounded  with  tears  and  sighs  ;  the  next 
with  smiles  and  acclamations  !  At  one  moment  lamented 
by  mortals ;  the  next  greeted  by  angels,  and  the  spirits  of 
just  men  made  perfect !  At  one  moment  gasping  in  agony 
and  convulsion ;  the  next  pouring  forth  the  melody  of  a 
ceaseless  song !  At  one  moment  the  nerveless,  emaciated 
hand,  just  raised  by  its  attendants  ;  the  next  waving  a  palm 
of  victory,  and  striking  a  harp  of  gold  !  At  one  moment  tho 
parched  lip  gently  touched  with  moisture ;  the  next  drinking 
of  those  rivers  of  pleasure  which  flow  from  the  throne  of 
God  and  the  Lamb  !  At  one  moment  the  darkened  chamber, 
accommodated  to  the  fading  sense,  and  concealing  the 
appalling  form  of  death  ;  the  next  shining  out  like  a  sun  in 
the  kingdom  of  his  Father !  O,  happy  and  transporting 
change  for  the  holy  soul  that  thus  passes  from  the  gloomy 
chamber  of  sickness  to  the  bright  and  healthful  region  of 
the  paradise  above  ! — from  dying  pains  to  boundless  bliss  ; 
from  the  converse  of  sinful  mortals  to  the  presence  of  an 
infinitely  gracious  and  glorious  God ;  from  a  contentious 
and  tumultuous  world,  to  endless  peace,  and  rest,  and  love  ! 
Well  may  such  a  soul  while  engaged  in  the  mortal  strug- 
gle exclaim, — 

"  Sing  with  me !  siug  with  me  f 
Weeping  brethren,  sing  with  me  ! 
For  now  an  open  heaven  I  see. 
How  my  soul  this  earth  despises  I 
How  my  heart  its  spirit  rises  ! 


AFFLICTION  IN  THE  PROSPECT   OF    DEATH.  327 

Bounding  from  the  flesh,  I  sever, 
World  of  sin,  adieu  for  ever ! 

Sing  with  me  !  sing  with  me ! 
Friends  of  Jesus,  sing  with  me ! 
All  my  sufferings,  all  my  wo, 
All  my  griefs  I  here  forego, 
Farewell,  terrors,  sighing,  grievmg, 
Praying,  healing,  and  believing, 
Earthly  trusts,  and  all  its  wrongings, 
Earthly  love,  and  all  its  longings ! 

Sing  with  me  !  sing  with  me ! 
Blessed  spirits,  sing  with  me ! 
To  the  Lamb  our  song  shall  be, 
Through  a  glad  eternity. 
Farewell  earthly  mom  and  even. 
Sun,  and  moon,  and  stars  of  heaven ! 
Heavenly  portals  ope  before  me. 
Welcome  Christ  in  all  thy  glory  !" 

Reader,  has  God  made  you  a  partaker  of  his  grace  ? 
Have  you  a  personal  interest  in  the  mercy  of  God,  through 
Christ   Jesus  ?      Have  you,  as   a  penitent  and  believmg 
sinner,  taken  refuge  in  the  blood  of  atonement?  Then  let  not 
the  prospect  of  death  excite  alarm.     Fear  not.     Encourage 
yourself  in  the  Lord  your  God.     Guard  agamst  all  fleshly 
"reasonings—all  anxiety  respecting  your  departure.    "Take 
1.0  thought   for   the  morrow,   for  the  morrow  shall  take 
thouoht  for  the  things  of  itself;  sufficient  for  the  day  is  the 
evil  Thereof."     Your  duty  has  only  to  do  with  the  present, 
and  the  grace  you  have  to  seek  is  grace  to  help  m  time  of 
need— sufl-cring  grace  for  sufi-ering  times,  and  dymg  grace 
for  a  dying  hour.     This  is  promised  :  "  My  grace  is  suffi- 
cient for  thee,  for  my  strength  is  made  perfect  in  weak- 
ness "     Who  hath   said  this  ?     He  who  cannot  he  ;   he 
who  is  "  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever ;"  who 
hath  the  keys  of  death  and  hell;  who  in  all  cases  is  able 
to  keep  that  which  is  committed  to  him  agamst  that  great 


.> 


328 


AFFLICTION    IN    THE  PROSPECT  OF   DEATH. 


day.  Be  not  faithless,  then,  but  believing.  The  only  real 
object  of  dread  in  death  is  sin ;  in  this  is  the  sting ;  and 
if  Christ  hath  delivered  you  from  sin,  in  the  guilt,  and 
power,  and  love  thereof,  and  if  you  are  earnestly  seeking 
to  be  cleansed  from  all  filthiness  of  flesh  and  spirit, 
death  can  have  no  power  to  injure  you  ;  the  sting  is  ex- 
tracted ;  you  shall  be  victorious ;  and  when  death  is  van- 
quished, all  his  precursors,  appendages,  and  consequences 
shall  fall  with  him ;  nothing  shall  remain  but  salvation, 
glory,  and  eternal  life. 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING   IN    HEAVEN. 


329 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 

Hear  what  God  the  Lord  hath  spoken : — 

O  my  people,  faint  and  few, 
Comfortless,  afflicted,  broken, 

Fair  abodes  I  build  for  you ; 
Thorns  of  heartfelt  tribulation 

Shall  no  more  perplex  your  ways, 
Ye  shall  name  your  walls  salvation, 

And  your  gates  shall  all  be  praise. 

Ye  no  more  your  suns  descending, 

Waning  moons  no  more  shall  see, 
But  your  griefs  for  ever  ending. 

Find  eternal  noon  in  me. 
God  shall  rise,  and  shining  o'er  you, 

Change  to  day  the  gloom  of  night; 
He,  the  Lord,  shall  be  your  glory, 

God  your  everlasting  Light. 

"TUOU  WILT  SHOW  ME  THE  PATH  OF  LIFE;  IN  THY  PRESENCE  IS 
FULLNESS  OF  JOY ;  AT  THY  RIGHT  HAND  ARE  PLEASURES  FOR  EVER- 
MORE."—Psalm  xvi,  11. 

It  was  said  of  Socrates,  that  he  brought  down  philo- 
sophy from  heaven  to  earth,  because  he  drew  men  from 
the  immoderate  contemplation  of  the  heavenly  bodies,  and 
directed  their  attention  to  the  nature  and  end  of  man,  and 
to  his  appropriate  duties  and  relations  in  the  present  world. 
But  Jesus  Christ  draws  men  from  earth  to  heaven.  He 
teaches  them  a  divine  philosophy,  and  elevates  them  from 
things  seen,  and  temporal,  and  earthly,  to  things  spiritual,  and 
heavenly,  and  eternal.  Indeed,  there  is  no  subject  to  which 
the  Scriptures  more  frequently  invite  our  attention  than  this. 
Whatever  be  our  condition  in  the  world,  whether  we  are 
ill  prosperity  or  adversity,  in  health  or  in  sickness,  they 
constantly  call  upon  us  to  consider  the  connection  of  the 
life  that  now  is  with  that  life  of  blessedness  in  heaven 


330 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING   IN   HEAVEN. 


which  is  the  ultimate  design  of  the  Almighty  concerning 
his  rational  offspring.  And  how  fitted  is  the  revelation  of 
such  a  state  to  awaken  the  attention,  and  enkindle  the 
desire,  of  every  one  that  is  an  heir  of  immortality  ;  and 
how  well  calculated  to  support  and  animate  the  mind  be- 
neath the  pressure  of  pain  and  suffering !  By  it  the  first 
Christians  were  encouraged  to  endure  all  those  trials  of 
cruel  mockings  and  scourgings,  of  bonds  and  imprison- 
ments, of  tortures  and  death,  to  which  they  were  called 
for  the  sake  of  Christ.  Indeed,  what  are  the  trials  of  life, 
or  the  terrors  of  death,  when  compared  with  the  "  exceed- 
ing weight  of  glory"  which  is  to  be  revealed  ?  Shall  we 
sink  or  falter  by  the  way  when  we  know  that  we  are  jour- 
neying to  a  land  of  everlasting  rest,  and  shall  soon  reach 
our  eternal  home  ?  Shall  the  dark  valley  affright  us,  when 
we  see  beyond  it  the  fields  of  immortality  smiling  in  the 
beauty  of  an  eternal  spring?  Destined  as  we  are  for 
heaven,  shall  we  grieve  or  murmur  that  earth  is  not  found 
to  be  a  suitable  resting  place,  and  that  God  checks  every 
tendency  to  rest  here,  by  sharp  afl[lictions  and  severe  dis- 
appointments? Nay,  not  only  should  the  hope  of  heaven 
prevent  us  from  complaining  of  the  afflictions  of  life,  but 
the  thought  that  these  afflictions  are  preparing  us  for  that 
blessed  state  ;  that  tney  arc  ordained  as  necessary  and  use- 
ful means  of  discipline  to  promote  our  progress  toward  it ; 
that  they  are  the  furnace  by  which  the  dross  is  to  be 
purged  away,  and  we  are  to  be  purified  for  the  Master's 
use,  should  induce  cheerful  submission,  and  grateful 
acknowledgment ;  and  lead  us  to  pray,  earnestly,  that  in 
due  time  we  may  be  presented  faultless  and  blameless 
before  the  presence  of  God's  glory  with  exceeding  joy. 
It  concerns  the  suffering  and  dying  Christian  to  be  much 
engaged  in  meditating  on  the  prospect  of  a  blessed  immor- 
tality. The  hope  of  heaven,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
is  the  chief  source  of  his  consolation  and  joy.     Here  the 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN   HEAVEN. 


331 


saints  of  God,  in  every  age,  have  found  comfort.     David 
indulged  the  sublimities  of  Christian  hope,  and  exclaimed, 
"  I  shall  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever."     Hab- 
akkuk  says,  "Although   the   fig-tree   shall  not   blossom, 
neither  shall  fruit  be  in  the  vines ;  the  labor  of  the  olive 
shall  fail,  and  the  fields  shall  yield  no  meat ;  the  flocks 
shall  be  cut  off  from  the  fold,  and  there  shall  be  no  herd 
in  the  stalls  ;  yet  will  I  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  I  will  joy  in 
the  God  of  my  salvation."     The  author  of  the  seventy- 
third  Psalm,  appealing  to  Jehovah,  declares,  "  Thou  shalt 
guide  me  with  thy  counsel,  and  afterward  receive  me  to 
alory."     Paul  says,  "  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this 
present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 
which  shall  be  revealed  in  us."     All  believers  "rejoice 
in  hope,"  and  are  patient,  and  may  "  glory  in  tribulation," 
knowing  that  their  "  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a 
moment,  worketh  out  for  them  a  far  more  exceeding  and 
eternal  weight  of  glory  ;"  while  they  look  not  at  the  things 
seen,  which  are  temporal,  but  at  the  things  not  seen,  which 
are  eternal.     Heaven  is  the  perfect  state  of  the  Christian, 
both  in  respect  of  happiness  and  character ;  the  consum- 
mation of  all  his  toils,  the  recompense  of  all  his  sufferings, 
the  realization  of  all  his  hopes  ;  and,  surely,  it  is  well  that 
he  who  has  begun  the  race,  should  keep  his  eye  fixed  on 
the  goal ;  that  he  who  has  begun  the  combat,  should  en- 
courage himself  with  the  glory  of  the  coming  triumph ; 
that  he  who  is  struggling  with  the  storm,  should  anticipate 
the  haven  of  repose,  the  welcome  of  friends,  and  the  com- 
forts of  home.     Suffering  Christian,  have  you  the  prospect 
opened  before  you  of  future  and  eternal  blessedness  ?    Then 
let  me  call  upon  you  to  "  rejoice  in  hope  of  the  glory  of 
God."     Let  not  any  distressing  anxieties  or  gloomy  fore- 
bodings mar  your  joy.     Whatever  are,  or  may  be,  your 
sufferings  here,  you  shall  be  happy  through  all  eternity. 
Look  forward  to  your  final  destination,  and  let  the  glory 


332 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING    IN    HEAVEN. 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING   IN   HEAVEN. 


333 


that  awaits  you  fill  your  mind,  anil  animate  your  heart.  If 
Cato  and  Cleombratus,  two  heathens,  after  reading  Plato's 
book  on  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  voluntarily  put  an  end 
to  their  existence,  the  one  falling  on  his  sword,  and  the 
other  throwing  himself  from  a  precipice,  that  they  might  the 
sooner  partake  of  the  joys  of  futurity — what  a  shame  is  it 
for  Christians,  who  have  life  and  immortality  brought  to 
light  by  the  gospel,  to  be  found  shrinking  from  suffering, 
or  even  death  itself,  with  heaven  fullv  in  their  view  !  Let 
me  aid  you,  then,  in  your  meditations,  and  direct  your  atten- 
tion to  some  of  the  leading  features  of  this  most  delightful 
topic.  Heaven  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  state  of  perfect 
blessedness.  To  this,  three  conditions  are  essential : 
there  must  be  an  exemption  from  all  evils,  there  must  be 
the  concurrence  of  all  positive  excellences,  and  there  must 
be  attached  to  these  permanent  duration  of  existence. 

An  exemption  from  all  evils  is  the  first  condition  of  per- 
fect blessedness.  This  world  is  justly  styled  "  a  vale  of 
tears."  Distress  awaits  us  here  in  a  thousand  forms. 
Within  us  it  dwells,  without  it  assails.  "  Man  is  born  to 
trouble  as  the  sparks  fly  upward."  To  all,  even  to  the 
happiest,  human  life  is  tribulation  and  conflict.  No  man 
is  thoroughly  at  ease  in  his  condition.  Our  bodies  are 
subjected  to  the  evils  of  hunger  and  thirst,  of  cold  and 
heat,  of  weariness  and  languor,  of  sickness  and  pain,  dis- 
ease and  death.  Our  pursuits  are  attended  by  disappoint- 
ment, vexation,  and  distress.  Our  friends  and  families  are 
in  want,  pain,  and  sorrow  ;  they  sicken  and  die  :  their  sins 
disgrace  them,  and  wound  us,  and  awaken  many  anxieties 
respecting  their  future  destiny.  Our  fellow-men  often 
harass  and  distress  us  by  their  injustice,  their  falsehood, 
and  their  oppressions.  To  beings  habituated  to  a  state 
of  existence  so  extensively  formed  of  these  distressinsr 
materials,  how  welcome  must  be  the  heavenly  state  !  In 
that  peaceful  rest,  no  sensation  of  thirst,  of  hunger,  of 


languor,  of  poverty,  shall  trouble  us  more.     D'««=^««  «f 
pain  shall  no  more  put  us  to  the  torture  ;-there  shall  be 
1,0  complaining  of  the  treachery  of  false  friends,  or  of  the 
wickedness,  the  calumnies,  the  injustice,  of  avowed  ene- 
mies ;  the  relation  will  no  more  weep  for  the  relation,  for 
all  tears  shall  be  wiped  away  from  all  eyes.     Now  this 
will  be  no  trifling  attainment ;  to  have  blessings  without 
change,   health   without   sickness,  and  pleasure   without 
pain  —the  bloom  without  the  blight,  the  sunshine  without 
the  cloud,  peace  that  nothing  can  disturb,  happiness  that 
nothing  can  alloy.     How  delightful,  how  exhilarating  the 
prospect ! 

"  With  joy  the  sailor,  long  by  ocean  tost. 
Spreads  all  his  canvass  for  the  distant  coast. 
With  joy  the  hind,  his  dayly  labor  done. 
Sees  the  broad  shadows,  and  the  setting  sun. 
With  joy  the  slave,  worn  out  with  tedions  woes, 
Beholds  the  bliss  that  libert)'  bestows." 

And  if  the  sailor  thus  joys,  though  the  tempest  must  be 
again  braved  ;  and  the  laborer,  though  the  morrow  s  sun 
must  awaken  him  to  new  toils  ;  and  the  slave,  though  for 
a  lime  he  must  still  wear  the  galling  chain  ;  what  is  that 
joy  that  must  be  felt,  when  the  howl  of  the  last  tempest 
has  died  away  ;  when  the  last  labor  is  completed  ;  when 
the  last  pang  of  misery  has  escaped  the  heart ;  and  the 
last  tear  is  dried  up  ?  O,  happy,  happy  day  !  when  there 
shall  be  no  more  death,  neither  sorrow,  nor  crying,  neither 
shall  there  be  any  more  pain  ;  for  the  former  thmgs  are 

passed  away."  /«•«♦:«„ 

Human  life  is  not  only  exposed  to  misery  and  affliction 
but  also  to  moral  evil,  which  is  much  more  to  be  feared 
than  all  the  evils  of  suffering,  of  which  it  is  the  source. 
Christians,  though  delivered  from  the  power  of  sin,  are 
still  exposed  to  its  assaults.  They  are  assailed  on  att 
hands,  by  the  motions  of  the  flesh,  by  the  solicitations  of 


334 


AFFLICTION    TERMINATING    IN   HEAVEN. 


the  wicked,  by  the  contagion  of  evil  example,  by  the  tempt- 
ations of  the  world  and  of  the  devil.     This  life,  therefore, 
is  one  of  conflict ;  nor  can  they  maintain  their  consistency 
and  hope  but  by  strenuojs  exertions.     An   apostle  com- 
pares the  Christian  life  to  that  which  requires  the  strongest 
eflforts.     The  Christian  is  to  be  armed  from  head  to  foot, 
and  "  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith."     He  is  opposed  in 
the  career  of  holy  duty,  and  must  wrestle  not  only  "  against 
flesh  and  blood,  but  against  principalities,  against  powers, 
against  spiritual  wickedness  in  high  places."     A  race  is 
set  before  him,  and  he  is  to  "  forget  those  things  which 
are  behind,  and  to  reach  forth  unto  those  which  are  be- 
fore ;"  he  must  "  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of 
the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus."     Such  a  state  is 
incompatible  with  complete  enjoyment.     It  is  a  state  of 
happiness,  but  the  enjoyment  is  not  perfect.     Can  that  be 
a  state  of  complete  happiness  in  which  you  are  to  watch 
every  moment,  lest  your  heart  depart  from  the  living  God  ? 
in  which  the  heart  requires  so  many  motives  to  keep  it 
right,  and  which,  after  all,  leaves  us  to  lament  over  so 
many  defects  ?  in  which  we  are  everywhere  in  danger  ;  in 
speaking  and  in   silence,  in  solitude  and  in  society,  in 
health  and  in  sickness,  in  prosperity  and  in  adversity,  in 
riches  and  in  poverty  ?    But  shall  wc  have  to  struggle  with 
those  evils  in  heaven  ?  Ah,  no !  temptation  shall  never  enter 
there.     The  heart  will  then  move  upward  toward  God  by 
its  own  nature ;  there  will  be  no  flesh  to  render  nugatory  the 
pious  volitions  of  the  spirit.    Satan,  though  he  could  ascend 
to  the  top  of  the  temple  of  Jerusalem,  shall  not  be  permitted 
to  enter  the  temple  of  glory,  or  the  heavenly  Jerusalem. 
Sin  shall  have  no  place  there,  and  shall  no  longer  be  able 
to  make  use  either  of  our  own  flesh,  or  of  the  evil  example 
of  others  to  seduce  us.     Then  our  struggles  will  be  all 
over,  our  conflicts  for  ever  ended.     Enemies  can  no  more 
assault,  error  no  more  mislead,  temptation  no  more  harass. 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING  IN    HEAVEN. 


335 


O,  happy  they  who  thus  rest  in  the  presence  of  their  God ! 
Where  there  is  temptation  there  is  also  fear — a  fear  of 
falling  away  from  God,  of  which  we  ought  never  to  divest 
ourselves  in  this  world.     This  is  the  guard  of  our  piety, 
and  hence  it  is   said,  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that  feareth 
always."     "  Let  him  that  standeth  take  heed  lest  he  fall." 
No  fear,  however,  is  consistent  with  perfect  enjoyment. 
Our  present  state,  whatever  be  the  measure  of  our  piety, 
is  not  one  of  absolute  safety,  and,  therefore,  not  one  of 
perfect  enjoyment.     "  I  keep  under  my  body,  and  bring  it 
into  subjection,"   says  the  apostle,  "  lest  by  any  means, 
when  I  have  preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  cast- 
away."    "  Pass  the  time  of  your  sojourning  here  in  fear." 
Who  can  but  fear  when  his   immortal  spirit  is  trembling 
between  heaven  and  hell  ?     The  grace  of  God  in  the  soul 
is  compared  to  seed  sown   in  the   earth :    to  how  many 
hazards  is   it  exposed  before   it  becomes   rooted   in   the 
ground  ;  and  after  it  has  sprung  up— from  the  blade  to  the 
full  corn  in  the  ear— how  many  threatening  dangers  keep 
our  fears  alive  ;    nor  are  those  fears  removed  until  it  is 
gathered  in  the  garner.     This  is  the  state  of  the  blessed 
in  heaven  ;  they  are  safely  housed  ;  no  longer  in  the  field, 
endangered  by   storm  and  blight,  but  gathered  into  the 
sarner,  where  fear  cannot  enter,  and  where,  secured  from 
all  possibility  of  falling,  they  may  give  full  scope  to  their 
joy.     Their  residence  in  heaven  will  be  permanent ;  they 
shall  no  more  go  out.     The  gates  of  the  celestial  city  shut 
the  wicked  out,  and  the  righteous  in.     Freed,  therefore, 
from  every  source  of  distress,  from  all  occasion  of  toil  and 
fear,  there  will  be  no  drawback  upon  their  felicity — no 
counteracting  influence  to  diminish  or  to  interrupt  the  tide 
of  their  bliss. 

A  concurrence  of  all  positive  excellences  is  essential  to 
perfect  blessedness.  Here  our  views  must  necessarily  be 
feeble  and  contracted.     We  can  think  of  the  excellences 


336 


AFFLICTION    TERMINATING    IN   HEAVEN. 


of  heaven  only  according  to  the  poverty  of  our  untlerstan  J- 
ing.  Sufficient,  however,  may  be  known  to  sweeten  all 
the  bitterness  of  this  world,  and  to  render  insipid  all 
its  sweetness.  What,  then,  are  we  allowed  to  reckon 
npon  as  the  grand  component  parts  of  this  exalted  state, 
as  to  positive  enjoyment  ?    You  may  reckon  upon — 

The  perfection  of  your  nature.     To  begin  with  the  soul. 
There  are  three  general  operations  of  which  the  soul  is 
capable,  and  which  constitute  sources  of  action  and  plea- 
sure  almost  innumerable.      These  are  knowing,  loving, 
and  feeling.     In  this  world  these  operations   are  either 
obstructed  or  misapplied  by  the  influence  of  sin  and  imper- 
fection ;    and,  consequently,   the  happiness  which  might 
result  from  them  is  impeded  or  destroyed  ;    but,  in  the 
heavenly  state,  the  soul  is  renewed  to  a  state  of  absolute 
perfection ;  its  natural  faculties  are  strengthened  and  en- 
larged, and  its  moral  powers  refined  and  purified  to  the 
highest  degree  imaginable  :  the  result  must  be  the  enjoy- 
ment of  perfect  felicity.     Observe  the  eflect  as  to  know- 
ledge.    "  Now  we  know  but  in  part  ;"  this  is  owing  to  that 
defectiveness  of  vision,  and  that  blindness  of  understanding, 
which  have  followed  as  the  consequences  of  sin.     Such 
is  the  slowness  and  obscurity  of  our  conceptions,  such  the 
feebleness  and  fallibility  of  our  judgment,  and  such  the 
weakness  of  our  memory,  that  much  labor  is  necessary  to 
acquire  a  small  degree  of  knowledge.    Effort  attends  every 
acquisition,   and    doubts   and  uncertainties   diminish  the 
value  of  every  possession ;   and  the  wiser  men  are,  the 
more  readily  will  they  confess  that  all  they  know  is  but 
little  in  comparison  of  what  remains  to  be  known.     But  in 
heaven  all  these  defects  and  obstacles  will  cease  to  exist. 
What,  then,  will  be  able  to  hinder  the  activity  of  the  soul, 
or  to  cloud  its  perceptions  ?     Its  intellectual  powers  will 
receive  such  an  accession  of  strength  and  vigor  as  will 
add  quickness,  facility,  and  pleasure,  to  all  their  opera- 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING   IN   HEAVEN. 


337 


tions.      There  will  be  no  dullness  of  apprehension,  no 
difficulty  of  judging,  and  consequently  no  painful  investi- 
gation of  truth ;  no  perplexed  reasonings,  no  false  con- 
clusions.    Our  moral  nature  being  perfectly  restored  to 
order  by  the  eradication  of  everything  unholy,  will  leave 
the  intellect  to  act  in  perfect  freedom,  while  the  subjects 
of  thought  will  be  presented  in  all  their  variety  and  vast- 
ness.     How  delightful  the  anticipation !    Is  it  not  certain 
that  an  understanding  thus  purified  and  extended — con- 
tinually occupied  in  discovering  new  objects — always  in  a 
state  to  form  just  ideas— always  at  the  fountain  of  truth— 
always   receiving  the  direct,  unobstructed  beams  of  the 
divine  glory — always  capable  of  considering  truths  in  con- 
nection with  their  causes  and  efiects,  and  in  relation  to 
God,  and  his  works  of  creation,  providence,  and  grace— 
and  which   shall  always  make  use  of  these  truths  and 
objects  to  raise  itself  to  God,  to  admire  him,  to  praise  him, 
to  adore  him  ;  is  it  not  certain  that  an  understanding  thus 
enlarged  and  occupied  must  be  a  source  of  the  most  ex- 
alted joy  ?    Observe  the  effect  as  to  love.     That  is  a  great 
change  which  takes  place  on  earth  when  a  sinner  is  con- 
verted to  God ;  for  then  the  enmity  of  the  carnal  mind  to 
God  and  the  things  of  God  is  subdued  ;  then  the  affections 
which  had  been  placed  solely  on  things  base,  sordid,  and 
earthly,  are  changed  and  purified,  and  fixed   on  things 
above.     By  that  change  he  is  translated  from  a  state  of 
guilt  and  misery  into  a  state  of  grace  and  happiness ;  but 
another  transition  is  necessary  to  perfect  his  blessedness, 
he  must  be  translated  from  a  state  of  grace  into  a  state  of 
glory.     In  the  former  his  sanctification  is  imperfect ;  his 
love  is  languid,  it  is  in  his  heart  but  as  a  feeble  flame,  its 
happy  influence  is  impaired  by  ignorance,  infirmity,  and 
weakness  ;  but  in  heaven  it  will  be  perfect,  free  from  any 
alloy.     We  shall  love  what  we  ought  to  love,  and  our  love 
will  be  always  delightful,  always  calculated  to  afford  us 

15 


338 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING   IN  HEAVEN. 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


339 


new  pleasure.  How  free  shall  it  be,  when  it  shall  have 
neither  distraction,  nor  conflicts,  nor  obstacles  !  How  pure 
shall  it  be  when  it  shall  no  longer  be  mixed  with  any  de- 
fects !  How  extensive  shall  it  be,  when  we  shall  love  in 
proportion  to  our  knowledge,  and  shall  "  know  even  as  we 
are  known  !"  Then  shall  we  see  God  in  all  his  excel- 
lence— the  supreme  object  and  end,  the  only  felicity  of  the 
soul,  and  the  sight  will  excite  and  draw  forth  all  its  powers, 
and  fill  the  utmost  capacity  and  expansion  of  the  spirit 
with  pure  and  rapturous  affection.  Can  we  form  a  fuller 
conception  of  bliss  than  to  be  perfectly  loved  by  the  best 
and  most  blessed  being,  and  perfectly  to  love  him,  thus 
reflecting  in  ourselves  the  glories  of  the  divine  image  ? 
Observe  the  eflect  as  to  enjoyment.  The  soul  is  capable 
here  of  a  great  number  of  pleasing  sensations ;  and  great 
is  the  happiness  which  we  are  made  to  enjoy  when  we 
taste  that  the  Lord  is  gracious,  and  know  the  things  that 
are  freely  given  us  of  God.  In  communion  with  him  the 
Christian  is  often  filled  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing, 
and  experiences  pleasures  which  he  would  not  exchange 
for  all  the  pleasures  of  the  world.  But  we  may  easily 
conceive  that  in  heaven  the  soul  may  have  an  infinity  of 
pleasures  more  agreeable,  more  lively,  and  less  limited, 
than  those  of  this  life.  And  who  can  say  how  much  a 
bountiful  God,  who  shall  no  longer  be  prevented  by  sin 
and  defect — a  God  who  shall  take  pleasure  in  making  us 
as  happy  as  our  capacities  will  admit — a  God  who  shall 
act  upon  the  ground  of  his  love  to  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son, 
and  in  reference  to  his  infinite  merit ;  who  can  say  how 
far  he  can  cause  pleasures  to  spring  up  within  us  ?  Now 
he  bestows  upon  his  people  the  honor  of  being  his  sons, 
the  graces  and  comforts  of  his  Spirit,  the  precious  earnests 
of  his  love,  and  the  seal  of  their  redemption ;  but  in  emi- 
nency  of  degree,  the  emanations  of  his  love,  and  the  eflfects 
of   his  beneficence,  are  incomparably  more  glorious  in 


heaven.     Here  the  saints  are  adopted ;— there  crowned. 
There  he  opens  all  the  bright  treasures  of  his  wisdom, 
the  riches  of  his  goodness,  the  beauties  of  his  holmess, 
the  glories  of  his  power ;  and,  by  the  unrestramed  mani- 
festations of  his  presence,  fills  them  with  inefi-able  delight 
The  body  also  shall  be  raised  in  perfection.     The  soul 
and  the  body  are  the  essential  parts  of  man ;  and,  however 
inferior  it  may  be  in  its  nature,  yet  the  body  is  necessarily 
associated  with  the  soul  in  all  the  exercises  of  piety  here. 
Holy  actions  are  originated  by  the  wisdom  and  detcrmma- 
tion  of  the  spirit,  but  they  are  performed  by  the  ministry 
of  the  flesh.     Every  grace  expresses  itself  m  visible  ac- 
tions by  the  body.     In  repentance,  it  weeps:  J"  thanks- 
giving,  the  tongue  utters  accents  of  praise  :  in  fulfilhng  the 
will  of  God,  the  feet  run  with  swift  obedience.     All  our 
labors,  and  all  our  victories,  are  achieved  by  the  soul  in 
conjunction  with  the  body.    Inasmuch,  then,  as  he  is  served 
and  glorified  by  both,  God  has  determined  that  both  shall 
again  be  united,  and  glorified  together.     They  run  the 
same  race,  and  shall  receive  the  same  reward  :  they  are 
engaged  in  the  same  conflict,  and  shall  share  the  same 
triumph.     When  the  crown  of  glory  shall  be  conferred  by 
the    great  Judge,  both  shall  partake  of  the   honor.     No 
doubt,  this  will  greatly  contribute  to  our  happiness.     11, 
indeed,  the  body  were  to  be  raised  up  no  better  than  when 
laid  down,  such  a  resurrection  would  scarcely  be  desirable. 
In  our  present  state,  our  bodily  frame  is  in  itself  imperfect ; 
it  is  vitiated  by  disease,  liable  to  frequent  derangement,  and 
easily  overcome  by  fatigue ;  it  is  often  an  impediment  to 
devotion,  a  source  of  pain  and  misery,  and  tinges  with 
gloom  and  melancholy  the  fairest  scenes  of  hfe.     Hence, 
to  lay  down  the  body  is  looked  upon  by  many  as  a  deliver- 
ance;  and,  judging  of  the  future  by  their  ^-lings  at  the 
present,  the  prospect  of  reassuming  it  excites  but    ittle 
eagerness  of  desire.     But  when  raised,  the  body  shall  be 


i 


340 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING   IN  HEAVEN. 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


341 


fitted  to  become  the  habitation  of  a  glorified  and  immortal 
mind,  and  prove  to  it  a  most  useful  and  delightful  com- 
panion throughout  eternity.  It  will  not  be  a  prison,  a 
burden,  a  hinderance,  but  a  help  ;  and  in  the  possession 
of  this  residence,  the  soul  will  become  greater,  holier,  and 
happier.  I  will  not  here  speak  of  difficulties,  for  difficulties 
there  are  none  with  infinite  power.  And  with  regard  to 
the  apparent  impossibilities  which  an  unsanctified  and 
daring  philosophy  may  have  connected  with  the  identity 
of  the  human  body  in  the  resurrection,  we  must  leave  all 
such  speculations  where  we  leave  infidelity  in  general,  and 
address  the  authors  of  them  in  the  words  of  our  Lord  to  the 
Sadducees  :  "  Ye  do  err,  not  knowing  the  Scriptures,  nor 
the  power  of  God."  Certainly  matter  in  all  its  forms  is  so 
arranged  by  God,  who  sees  the  end  from  the  beginning, 
that  when  he  gives  the  word  to  raise  the  human  body  there 
cannot  possibly  be  any  obstacle,  for  it  is  done  by  him  who 
is  able  to  do  all  things.  We  refer  all  to  the  power  of  God  : 
the  whole  is  a  miracle.  There  are  two  ways  by  which 
the  Scriptures  elevate  our  ideas  of  the  resurrection  body. 
The  first  is,  to  contrast  it  with  the  body  we  now  have. 
"  So  is  the  resurrection  of  the  body.  It  is  sown  in  cor- 
ruption :  it  is  raised  in  incorruption."  Firm,  enduring, 
incapable  of  defilement,  unassailable  by  distress,  and  proof 
against  the  undermining  progress  of  years.  "  It  is  sowu 
in  dishonor  :  it  is  raised  in  glory."  No  longer  composed 
of  base  elements,  subsisting  on  gross  supplies,  or  employed 
in  low  and  degrading  toils  ;  for  we  shall  be  made  like  unto 
the  angels  of  God.  "  It  is  sown  in  weakness :  it  is  raised 
in  power."  No  longer  liable  to  fatigue  and  lassitude,  re- 
quiring sleep  and  rest ;  but  ever  healthy,  vigorous,  and 
strong,  capable  of  serving  God  in  his  temple  day  and 
night.  "  It  is  sown  a  natural  body :  it  is  raised  a  spiritual 
body."  A  body  suited  to  a  spiritual  world,  where  all  is 
intellectual,  and  where  no  objects  of  sense  debase  or  dis- 


I 


tract  the  mind.     The  second  method  is  to  hold  forth  the 
confomity   it  will  bear  to  the  glorified  body  of  Jesus. 
..  Who  shall  change  our  vile  body,  and  fashion  it  like  unto 
his  glorious  body."     Observe  the  model.     It  is  the  body 
of  Christ,  not  as  bom  of  Mary,  nor  as  he  appeared  among 
the  Jev^s.  but  as  it  appeared  after  his  ascension      We  are 
not  without  some  representations  of  the  glory  of  the  body 
of  Christ.     A  glimpse  of  this  glory  was  given,  by  way  ot 
anticipation,  to  the  disciples  in  the  transfiguration,  when 
"  his  face  did  shine  as  the  sun,  and  his  raiment  was  white 
as  the  light."     In  this  glory  he  appeared  to  Saul  he  shone 
»  above  the  brightness  of  the  sun,"  and  struck  him  blmd. 
In  this  glory  he  was  seen  by  John,  "his  countenance  was 
as  the  sun  shining  in  his  strength,"  and  though  he  had 
once  been  familiar  with  him,  and  had  leaned  on  his  bosom 
he  "  fell  at  his  feet  as  dead."     How  glorious  must  be  that 
body  in  which  he  now  governs  the  world ;  in  which  he 
will  judge  the  universe ;  in  which  we  shall  hold  all  our 
intercourse  with  Deity !     Yet  a  conformity  to  his  glory  >s 
not  a  privilege  too  great  for  our  hope.     How  ammating  he 
thought!     How  ought  it  to  fortify  our  minds  against  the 
fear  of  death !     Not  only  are  our  spirits  secure,  but  our 
bodies  likewise.     There  can  be  no  ground  of  fear  so  long 
as  you  can  say  with  the  apostle,  "  I  know  in  whom  I 
have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep 
that  which  I  have  committed  to  him  agamst  that  day. 

You  may  reckon  upon  the  most  endeared  society.  As  a 
social  being,  man  is  dependent  on  the  society  with  which 
he  mingles  for  a  very  large  share  of  his  personal  har- 
ness One  of  the  greatest  and  most  solid  pleasures  of  life 
here'  is  that  of  a  tender  friendship,  a  united  society,  an 
aereeablo  connection  with  the  wise  and  good.  But  this 
is  a  delight  as  rare  as  it  is  sweet.  And  what  a  source 
of  grief  to  us  is  the  company  of  the  wicked !  Even  m  our 
choicest  connections,  how  many  drawbacks  upon  our  hap- 


i 


342 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


343 


piness  arise  from  imperfection,  absence,  separation,  pain, 
sickness,  and  death !  Hence  some  have  been  ready  to 
envy  the  unrelated,  unconnected  individual,  whose  anxieties 
and  griefs  are  all  personal.  But  "  it  is  not  good  that  man 
should  be  alone  "  in  any  condition.  It  is  better  to  follow 
the  course  of  providence ;  to  cherish  the  intimacies  of  life  ; 
to  improve  and  sanctify  them ;  to  look  forward  to  a  state 
where  all  impediments  to  social  happiness  shall  be  re- 
moved ;  where  we  shall  join  the  general  "  assembly  and 
church  of  the  first-bom  which  are  written  in  heaven  ;  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  an  innumerable  company 
of  angels,  Jesus  the  mediator  of  the  new  covenant,  and 
God  the  judge  of  all."  In  the  Scriptures  heaven  is  always 
represented  as  a  social  state ;  and  how  much  is  there  in 
the  prospect  to  excite  joyous  expectation !  Do  the  tender 
feelings  of  nature,  refined  and  strengthened  by  divine 
grace,  excite  in  our  breasts  an  ardent  desire  to  be  admitted 
again  to  the  embrace  of  pious  friends  and  relatives,  whom 
we  have  lost  on  earth,  and  who  are  now  for  ever  with  the 
Lord  ?  That  desire  will  be  gratified.  That  is,  indeed,  a 
transcendent  vision 

"  Which  paints  the  lost  on  earth,  revived  in  heaven ;" 

and  yet  not  more  transcendent  than  true.  The  inspired 
writer  says,  "  I  would  not  have  you  to  be  ignorant,  brethren, 
concerning  them  which  are  asleep,  that  ye  sorrow  not 
even  as  others  which  have  no  hope.  For  if  we  believe 
that  Jesus  died  and  rose  again,  even  so  them  also  which 
sleep  in  Jesus  will  God  bring  with  him.  For  the  Lord 
himself  shall  descend  from  heaven  with  a  shout,  with  the 
voice  of  the  archangel,  and  with  the  trump  of  God  :  and 
the  dead  in  Christ  shall  rise  first ;  then  we  which  are 
alive  and  remain  shall  be  caught  up  together  with  them  in 
the  clouds  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air  :  and  so  shall  we 
be  for  ever  with  the  Lord.     Wherefore  comfort  one  another 


with  these  words."  What  joyful  congratulations  will  then 
be  interchanged  between  parents  and  children,  brothers  and 
sisters,  friends  and  friends,  when  they  shall  meet  around 
the  throne !  What  deep  emotions  swell  the  heart  of  a 
Christian  parent  on  earth,  when  he  hears  a  beloved  child, 
under  the  influence  of  spiritual  concern,  ask,  "  What  must  : 
I  do  to  be  saved  ?"  or  when,  stepping  into  the  glorious 
liberty  of  the  children  of  God,  he  exclaims, 

"  My  God  is  reconcUed,  his  pard'ning  voice  I  hear !" 

but  what  is  this  to  the  joy  he  will  experience  when  he 
meets  that  child  in  glory  1     His  former  emotions  were 
qualified  by  the  thought  of  the  temptations  to  which  he  was 
yet  exposed,  and  the  possibility  that  these  promismg  ap- 
pearances might  after  all  be  blighted ;  but  the  latter  will 
be  unalloyed  by  any  restrictive  circumstances  whatsoever. 
Does  language  fail  to  describe  the  scene  of  domestic  bliss 
which  is  exhibited  when  the  sailor  boy,  after  a  long  ab- 
sence, and  many  exposures  and  suff'erings,  returns  home, 
and  is  embraced  by  parents,  sisters,  and  brothers,  who  re- 
joice over  him  as  one  "  who  was  dead,  and  is  alive  again  ; 
was  lost,  and  is  found  ?"    What  then  shall  be  the  meeting 
of  the  same  relatives  in  heaven— when  the  mother  receives 
her  children  to  the  skies  from  this  degenerate  earth,  and 
the  father  hails  his  off-spring  from  this  land  of  death  to  the 
region  of  life  and  immortality  !     O,  happy  meeting !  when 
they  meet,  no  more  to  share  each  other's  griefs,  no  more 
10  mourn  each  other's  woes,  no  more  to  grieve  for  each 
other's  defects ;  but  to  share  in  each  other's  joys,  to  triumph 
in  each  other's  happiness,  to  behold  in  each  other  an  im- 
mortal loveliness;  and  when  every  bosom  shall  glow  with 
unutterable  bliss  and  burn  with  seraphic  love ! 

Now  when  the  pious  mind  dwells  upon  the  character 
of  those  eminent  saints  who  have  shone  as  burning  lumi- 
naries  in  the  moral  hemisphere,  and  those  whose  faith  and 


344 


AFFLICTION   TERMLNATINO   IN   HEAVEN. 


patience  have  been  recorded  in  the  sacred  page  for  our 
instruction  and  edification,  how  often  do  his  passions  kindle 
with  desire  to  see,  and  hear,  and  mingle  with  them ! 
Such  will  be  our  exalted  privilege  at  death.  O,  can  it  be 
a  little  thing  "  to  walk  with  the  nations  of  the  saved  ?" 
Can  it  be  a  little  thing  to  commune  with  "  faithful  Abra- 
ham ;"  to  see  "  the  end  of  the  Lord,"  in  Job ;  to  listen  to 
"  the  sweet  singer  of  Israel ;"  to  look  on  the  transfigured 
face  of  Moses  ;  to  "  hail  the  mother  of  our  Lord,"  and  learn 
from  her  what  she  "  pondered  in  her  heart ;"  to  sympathize 
with  the  emotions  of  the  "  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved ;" 
to  fall  on  Paul's  neck,  not  weeping  that  "  we  shall  see  his 
face  no  more,"  but  rejoicing  that  he  has  now  "  received 
us  for  ever ;"  to  associate  with  all  those  "  who  have  come 
out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed  their  robes,  and 
made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  ?"  Their  num- 
ber cannot  be  told  ;  their  happiness  cannot  be  conceived  ; 
their  honors  cannot  be  described  ;  they  are  all  of  one  mind 
and  of  one  heart.  "With  endless  modifications  of  character, 
and  as  endless  a  diversity  of  reward,  no  possible  interrup- 
tion can  arise  to  their  harmony.  The  concord  is  absolute. 
"The  bond  of  perfection"  excludes  the  most  distant  en- 
croachment, or  the  most  subtil  insinuations  of  envy,  sus- 
picion, or  distrust.  The  misconstructions  of  motive,  the 
dissensions  of  opinion,  the  alienation  of  habit,  which  sever 
the  righteous  here,  will  be  replaced  by  generous  confidence, 
unerring  sentiment,  and  inseparable  union.  They  are  knit 
to  each  other  in  indissoluble  bonds  of  esteem  and  love  ;  and 
all  the  rich  treasures  of  knowledge  and  pleasure,  which 
each  one  possesses,  are  cheerfully  laid  out  to  promote  the 
growing  entertainment  and  happiness  of  the  whole.  Angels, 
also,  make  up  a  part  of  the  society  to  which  we  shall  be 
admitted; — "those  morning  stars"  that  "sang  together," 
"those  sons  of  God"  who  "shouted  for  joy"  at  the 
creation  of  the  world  ;  those  armies  of  the  living  God ; 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


345 


those    glorious    beings    who    never   sin,   who    excel   in 
strength,  who  are  proverbial  for  their  wisdom,  and  who  are 
models  in  doing  the  will  of  God  ;  a  number  that  cannot  be 
reckoned.     Even  now  they  feel  a  lively  interest  in  our  wel- 
fare.    They  rejoiced  in  our  penitence ;  they  minister  to 
us  as  the  heirs  of  salvation  ;  they  are  messengers  of  mercy 
to  convey  the  spirit  of  the  departing  Lazarus  to  Abraham's 
bosom ;  nor  will  they  fail  to  congratulate  us  on  our  safe 
arrival  at  the  celestial  shore.     How  enriching  and  delight- 
ful must  be  their  society,  employed  as  they  have  been  in 
observing  the  ways  and  works  of  God  from  the  commence- 
ment of  time,  and  excelling  as  they  do  in  wisdom  and 
benevolence ! 

But  what  constitutes  the  crowning  point  of  heavenly 
bliss,  is,  that  in  the  midst  of  this  illustrious  multitude  we 
shall  see  Jesus.  Heaven  is  the  place  of  his  residence, 
and  there  every  eye  shall  behold  him.  In  his  last  prayer 
for  his  disciples  he  said,  "  Father,  I  will  that  they  whom 
thou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am,  that  they  may 
behold  my  glory."  And  his  glory  they  do  behold,  for  they 
see  him  "  face  to  face  ;"  "  they  stand  before  the  throne  of 
God,"  in  his  presence,  at  his  "  right  hand."  At  present, 
clouds  and  darkness  are  round  about  the  throne  ;  "  we  walk 
by  faith,  not  by  sight ;"  but  then  we  shall  behold  what 
has  heretofore  been  disclosed  only  in  rare  and  imperfect 
vision  to  some  of  his  inspired  messengers ;  we  shall  see 
him  as  did  Isaiah,  "  on  his  throne  high  and  lifted  up,  and 
his  train  filling  the  temple."  Then  will  he  unveil  his 
matchless  beauties  to  the  enraptured  gaze  of  his  redeemed 
people  ;  then  will  he  lay  open  the  inexhaustible  treasures 
of  his  grace  for  their  enjoyment,  and  admit  them  to  the 
most  intimate  and  endearing  communion  with  himself. 
Who  that  loves  the  Redeemer  can  contemplate  the  prospect 
of  being  admitted  into  his  immediate  presence,  without  the 
deepest  emotions  of  holy  joy  ?     Do  we  deem  those  highly 

15* 


346 


AFFLICTION   TERMINATING   IN    HEAVEN. 


II! 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


347 


privileged  who  were  admitted  to  his  society  on  earth,  who 
heard  his  words,  and  saw  his  miracles,  and  enjoyed  his 
friendship ;  but  what  was  this  contrasted  with  the  enjoy- 
ment of  his  presence  in  heaven  ?  Even  here,  while  en- 
gaged in  communion  with  him,  how  often  has  he  made 
your  earthly  vessel  to  overflow  with  joy  and  consolation  ! 
How  often,  in  the  closet  and  in  the  sanctuary,  have  his 
manifestations  so  overwhelmed  your  spirit,  that  you  have 
been  led  to  cry  out, — 

*'  O !  would  he  more  of  heaven  bestow, 
And  let  the  vessel  break !" 

What,  then,  must  heaven  be,  when  you  shall  "  be  for  ever 
with  the  Lord  ?" 

Reckon  upon  the  most  glorious  employment.  Man  is  an 
active  being,  and  suitable  employment  for  his  active  powers 
seems  to  be  Tessential  to  his  perfect  happiness.  In  the 
present  world,  indolence  is  irreconcilable  with  piety,  and 
it  is  equally  incompatible  with  happiness. 

"  A  want  of  occupation  is  not  rest — 
A  mind  quite  vacant  is  a  mind  distressed." 

The  state  of  Adam  in  paradise  was  neither  one  of  idle 
contemplation,  nor  of  mere  quiescent  enjoyment.  He  was 
"  placed  in  the  garden  of  Eden  to  dress  it  and  to  keep  it ;" 
and  the  descriptions  which  are  given  us  in  Scripture  of 
the  heavenly  state  all  imply  an  active  and  vigorous  exertion 
of  the  powers  by  which  we  shall  then  be  distinguished. 
We  know  that  angels  are  active  beings  ;  they  are  employed 
sometimes  around  the  throne  ;  sometimes  in  ministering  to 
the  heirs  of  salvation  ;  sometimes  on  missions  to  distant 
parts  of  God's  dominions  :  and  from  this  activity  their 
happiness  in  a  great  measure  arises.  We  are  justified, 
then,  in  the  conclusion,  that  saints,  who  will  shortly  become 
their  associates,  and  be  placed  in  circumstances  so  nearly 


resembling  their  own,  will  be  similarly  employed.     With- 
out such  employment,  some  faculties  of  their  nature  would 
be  unoccupied,  some  graces  of  their  character  would  be 
unexercised,  and  some  of  their  capacities  of  enjoyment  un- 
gratified.     It  is  expressly  stated  that  "  they  serve  God  day 
and  night  in  his  temple."    But  what  are  the  employments  of 
heaven  ?     This   is  a  subject  on  which  it  were  vain  to 
speculate.     Perhaps  it  is  best  to  take  our  most  holy,  ex- 
alted, and  dignified  exercises  here,  and  to  imagine  them 
disconnected  from  all  that  is  mean  and  degrading,  all  that 
is  weak  and  restrictive,  all  that  is  painful  and  distressing ; 
and  to  suppose  them  perpetuated,  without  interruption,  and 
with  ever-growing  delight.     In  what  does  the  saint  of  God 
find  the  most  joyful   and  dignified  employment   for  his 
powers  here  ?     In  the  worship  of  God  ;  in  the  contempla- 
tion of  his  glories  ;  in  the  study  of  his  works  of  creation, 
providence,  and  grace  ;  in  fulfilling  his  purposes ;  in  pro- 
moting his  glory  ;  in  aiding  and  relieving  his  servants  ;  iu 
maintaining  communion  with  them.     But  how  many  cir- 
cumstances combine  to  interrupt  and  restrict  these  exercises, 
and  to  diminish  the  joy  they  are  calculated  to  produce ! 
The  engrossment  of  worldly  pursuits ;  the  weakness  of  our 
physical  nature  ;  the  conflicts  we  have  to  maintain  ;  the 
discouragements  to  which  we  are  subject ;  the  feebleness 
of  our  mental  capacities  ;  the  limited  sphere  of  our  move- 
ments.    But  in  heaven  these  will  have  no  place :  there 
will  be  an  exempticn  from  all  those  inconveniences  which 
we  now  so  sensibly  feel  and  lament.     Who  can  conceive 
a  thousandth  part  of  the  joy,  the  rapture,  which  shall  then 
be  experienced  by  the  saint  of  God  when— endowed  with 
immortal  vigor  ;  all  his  powers  renewed  in  absolute  perfec- 
tion ;  freed  from  darkness,  prejudice,  and  error,  from  weak- 
ness and  infirmity— his  faculties  shall  all  be  exercised  on 
the  noblest  and  loftiest  subjects,  and  in  a  manner  smted  to 
their  perfect  nature  ;  when  he  shall  be  able  to  prosecute 


348 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN   HEAVEN. 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


349 


his  inquiries,  and  to  render  the  service  of  his  grateful  af- 
fection without  weariness,  and  without  imperfection ;  and 
when  every  act  will  increase  his  knowledge,  heighten  his 
love,  and  enlarge  his  joy !     Then  you  must  reckon,  also, 

On  the  perpetuity  of  the  whole.  "  What  is  wanting  here  ?" 
said  a  flattering  courtier  to  his  prince,  when  riding  in  all 
the  pomp  and  pride  of  a  triumphal  procession.  "Continu- 
ance," replied  the  moralizing  emperor.  All  sublunary  bliss 
is  fleeting  and  transitory,  but  the  happiness  of  heaven  is 
everlasting.  Were  it  not  so,  its  worth  would  be  materially 
diminished.  In  proportion  to  the  value  of  any  possession 
is  our  desire  to  perpetuate  it,  and  our  regret  in  the  pros- 
pect of  its  loss.  Whatever,  therefore,  might  be  the  hap- 
piness of  heaven,  yet  the  thought  that  such  happiness 
might  end,  would  destroy  its  perfection,  and  inspire  sad 
and  melancholy  forebodings.  There  is  no  ground,  how- 
ever, for  such  apprehension.  There  happiness  is  not  less 
permanent  than  complete.  There  pleasures  are  for  ever- 
more. And  the  sacred  writers  would  never  have  us  lose 
sight  of  this.  With  all  their  representations  of  heavenly 
bliss,  they  are  careful  to  associate  the  idea  of  its  eternity. 
Is  it  treasure  ?  It  is  a  treasure  which  "  neither  moth  nor 
rust  can  corrupt,  nor  thieves  break  through  and  steal."  Is 
it  a  building  ?  It  is  "  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal 
in  the  heavens."  Is  it  a  crown  ?  It  is  "  a  crown  of  glory, 
that  fadeth  not  away."  Is  it  a  kingdom  ?  It  is  "  a  king- 
dom that  cannot  be  moved,"  "  an  everlasting  kingdom." 
Is  it  life  ?  It  is  "  eternal  life."  As  God  hath  of  his  infinite 
bounty  prepared  unutterable  joys  for  his  people  in  the  world 
to  come,  so  he  has  afllixed  no  other  term  to  the  duration  of 
these  joys  than  that  of  his  own  existence.  He  is  himself 
eternal ;  and  the  life  he  gives  them  through  Christ  his  Son 
shall  never  end :  and  everything  that  shall  render  a  life  in 
heaven  desirable  will  possess  the  same  undecaying  cha- 
racter.    They  who  possess  the  joys  of  the  paradise  above 


know  that  they  are  perpetual,  nor  does  the  most  distant 
suspicion  that  they  will  be  interdicted,  or  superseded,  or 
terminated,  ever  glance  upon  their  happy  minds.     The  sun 
that  lightens  that  world  never  goes  down,  nor  is  one  ray 
of  its  glory  ever  eclipsed  by  an  interposing  cloud.     The 
sentient  nature  of  the  saints  will  never  decay,  nor  their 
moral  nature  be  disordered,  nor  their  intellectual  vision 
grow  dim,  nor  their  society  be  reduced  either  by  disease  or 
death,  nor  their  employment  come  to  an  end ;  but  eternity 
is  inscribed   on   them  all.     Before   them   stretches  one 
eternal  day  of  bliss.     How  stupendous  the  idea!     Go  for- 
ward in  thought  through  countless  myriads  of  ages ;  imagine 
years  to  have  passed  away  as  numerous  as  the  dew-drops 
of  the  morning,  as  the  sands  of  which  this  earth  is  com- 
posed.    Then  look  at  the  inhabitants  of  heaven :    their 
sun  still  shines  resplendent,  no  cloud  has  darkened  its 
glory  ;•  the  measure  of  their  joy  is  still  undiminished  ;  no 
transient  pain,  no  ruflling  passion,  no  disquieting  fear,  no 
stain  of  sin,  no  indication  of  danger  has  disturbed  the  sweet 
composure   of  their  spirit,  or  rippled  for  a  moment  the 
smooth  surface  of  their  joy.     Through  periods  so  long,  that 
compared  with  them   time  and  all  its  ages  are  but  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  their  happiness  has  flowed  without 
interruption,  with  a  deepening  and  widening  current ;  nor 
do  they  mourn  its  departure,  for  an  eternity  is  still  before 
them — they  are  still  but  commencing  their  bliss.     O  en- 
rapturing prospect !    O  happy  end  of  life's  short  pilgrimage ! 
O  blessed  and  glorious  abode  !     Happy,  happy  they,  who 
thus  rest  in  the  presence  of  their  God  !    Their  conflicts  are 
all  over ;  their  sorrows  are  all  ended  ;  and  joy  unutterable 
is  become  their  portion  for  ever.     Christian  mourner,  con- 
template the  delightful  scene.    What  are  all  your  sufferings 
here  in  comparison  of  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed? 
They  are  light,  insignificant,  and  momentary.     Live,  then, 
in  the  anticipation  of  this  blessed  termination  of  all  your 


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AFFLICTION  TERMINATING   IN   HEAVEN. 


351 


trials.    What  you  may  yet  have  to  endure,  God  only  knows ; 
but  of  this  you  are  assured,  he  will  know  your  soul  in  ad- 
versity, he  will  hold  you  with  his  right  hand.    The  space 
between  you  and  the  grave  is  not  great.    You  are  drawing 
nearer  to  your  heavenly  home.    The  world  is  behind  you  : 
heaven  is  before  you.     From  behind  you  hear  the  groans 
of  misery,  and  the  cry  of  despair :  before  you,  from  above, 
you  will  presently  hear  a  voice  saying,  "  Come  up  hither." 
A  most  enrapturing  scene  will  then  burst  forth  upon  your 
delighted  eyes,  and  fill  your  astonished  heart  with  ecstatic 
joy  :  you  will  soon  cease  to  mourn  and  weep ;  and  com- 
mence an  endless  song  of  praise  to  "  Him  who  hath  loved 
you,  and   washed  you  from  your  sins  in  his  own  blood." 
Farewell,  for  ever  farewell,  the  tearful  eye,  the  bleeding 
heart !     Farewell,  the  tender,  anxious  dread  of  separation ! 
Farewell,  the  melancholy  scene  of  parting!     Farewell, 
beloved  friends'  last  weeping  adieu !     Immortality,*  glor>', 
peace,  heaven,  and  eternity,  will  be  for  ever  secured  to 
you.     It  is  true  you  have  yet  to  die  ;  and  the  summons  of 
death  falls  with  startling  sound  on  the  timid  ear.     Cold,  and 
dark,  and  troubled,  are  the  waters  of  this  Jordan  ;  but  fear 
not,  the  Lord  will  either  divide  them  for  your  passage,  or 
he  will  help  you  to  pass  through  them  in  safety.     Lo !  the 
heavenly  country,  the  holy  city,  rises  before  you !     The 
spires  of  the  heavenly  Jerusalem   glitter  in  your  view ! 
Already  you  feel  the  refreshing  gales  which  blow  from 
Canaan's  shore,  and  catch  occasionally  in  the  breeze  the 
distant  melodies  of  its  inhabitants !     With  such  a  prospect 
before  you,  can  you  give  place  to  fear  or  despondency  ? 
Surely  not.     In  the  spirit  of  faith,  and  hope,  and  gratitude, 
look  forward  to  the  blessed  results  of  a  patient  continuance 
in  well  doing :  so  will  you  rise  above  everything  that  is 
painful  and  gloomy  in  your  present  condition  ;  the  spirit 
of  holy  joy  and  triumph  will  take  possession  of  your  bosom ; 
and  even  amidst  scenes  of  sorrow,  and  pain,  and  bereave- 


I 


ment,  you  shall  yet  joy  in  the  God  of  your  salvation,  and 
it  shall  be  a  joy  unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 

Many,  however,  are  in  tribulation,  and  yet  have  no  such 
prospect.     Their  thoughts  are  broken  off,  even  the  pur- 
poses of  their   hearts,   and  their  earthly  schemes,   laid 
desolate ;  yet,  they  have  nothing  before  them  :  yea,  con- 
science tells  them,  this  is  only  the  beginning  of  sorrows, 
the  short  preface  to  a  long  roll,  written  within  and  without 
with  mourning,  lamentation,  and  wo.     Reader,  should  you 
be  in  this  unhappy  state,  the  writer,  before  he  lays  do\^T[\ 
his  pen,  would  fain,  once  more,  give  you  warning  from 
God.      O,  my  fellow-sinner,  reflect,  I  beseech  you,  on 
your  fearful  condition  !     You  are  unhappy  here,  and  you 
are  hastening  onward  to  an  eternal  perdition  :  in  your  sor- 
rows you  are  now  ready  to  think  your  burden  too  intolerable 
to  be  borne  ;  how,  then,  will  you  endure  the  torments  of 
hell  ?     If  the  chastisements  of  God,  when  he  deals  with 
you  in  mercy,  are  so  heavy,  what  must  be  the  outpourings 
of  his  wrath  ?    O,  think  of  this.    Believe  me,  all  the  evils 
you  have  ever  beheld,  or  heard  of,  or  conceived,  were  they 
collected  together,  and  concentrated  in  your  individual  ex- 
perience, would  not  furnish  an  adequate  illustration  of  the 
future  punishment  which  awaits  the  impenitent.     And  then 
eternity  !  eternity !     O,  to  spend  eternity  in  this  anguish  ! 
Who  can  bear  the  thought  of  this !    Flee,  sinner,  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come.     "  Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  why  will  ye  die  ?" 
O,  pity  yourself!  it  is  not  yet  too  late.    The  Saviour  stands 
before  you  in  all  the  combined  forms  of  power  and  of  pity. 
He  is  able,  he  is  willing  to  save  to  the  uttermost.     Seek 
him  while  he  may  be  found.     Dare  no  longer  to  provoke 
the  wrath  of  Almighty  God.     Flee,  at  the  peril  of  your 
soul,  flee  !    Flee  from  your  sins,  your  lukewarmness,  your 
unbelief;  flee  to  Jesus,  to  the  fountain  opened  in  his  side. 
Wait  for  no  qualifications  to  recommend  you  to  his  gracious 
notice.     He  requires  none.     If  Paul  and  Silas  were  to 


/ 


352 


AFFLICTION  TERMINATING  IN  HEAVEN. 


advise  you,  they  would  say,  "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved."  Plead  not,  as  an  ob- 
jection, your  unworthiness.  This  should  only  increase 
the  earnestness  of  your  application.  Behold  the  number 
and  the  character  of  those  who  have  obtained  mercy. 
There  is  scarcely  one  class  of  sinners,  or  one  class  of 
crime,  which  is  not  specifically  mentioned  in  Scripture  as 
having  been  pardoned.  Read  the  word  of  God  ;  and  hear 
him  saying,  in  the  language  of  gracious  encouragement, 
"  Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out." 
Obey  his  voice ;  and  commit  yourself  into  his  hands. 
Everything  urges  you  to  this.  You  are  urged  to  it  by  the 
commands  of  God — by  the  blood  of  Christ — by  the  strivings 
of  the  Spirit — by  the  admonitions  of  Providence — by  the 
invitations  of  the  gospel — by  the  entreaties  of  ministers — 
by  the  tears  of  relatives — by  the  uncertainty  of  the  future 
— by  the  difficulty  of  repentance — by  your  present  suffer- 
ings— by  the  prospect  of  greater  and  never-ending  woes  ; 
by  all  these  are  you  urged  to  surrender  yourself  to  the 
service  of  God,  and  by  faith  to  commit  yourself  into  the 
hands  of  your  Redeemer.  My  earnest  desire  for  you  is, 
that  you  may  now  yield  to  the  grace  of  religion  ;  and  that 
your  hopes  may  now  rise  to  its  glory  ;  nor  can  I  wish  you 
anything  either  higher,  or  better,  or  happier  in  this  world, 
than  the  service  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  nor  a  more  glorious 
reward  for  eternity  than  the  crown  of  glory  which  he  will 
bestow  on  all  those  who  wait  for  his  appearing.  That 
redeeming  mercy  should  raise  to  such  a  crown  the  children 
of  wrath  shall  be  the  wonder  of  angels,  and  of  just  men 
made  perfect,  for  ever  and  ever.  May  the  God  of  all 
grace  raise  you  from  the  death  of  sin  unto  the  life  of 
righteousness !    Amen. 


I 


THE  END. 


''  W^jftSSijiL^ 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY 


003202611 


-m^ 


